Rats to rescue wreck survivors

Rodents are being trained to go into earthquake debris wearing backpacks with microphones so rescue teams can talk to survivors.

Scientists are training rats to find earthquake survivors while wearing tiny backpacks with inbuilt microphones so rescue teams can locate and speak with them, Daily Mail reports.

Research scientist Dr Donna Kean, 33, from Glasgow, has been working in Morogoro, Tanzania over the past year for non-profit organisation APOPO on the project titled 'Hero Rats'.

The team is constructing specialist backpacks with in-built microphones, video gear and location trackers able to be fitted on to rats to allow rescue teams to communicate with survivors during real earthquakes.

Currently, scientists are sending them into mock debris to simulate a rescue response to a natural disaster.