Who / What
APOPO is a registered Belgian non-governmental organisation and US non-profit entity. It focuses on training southern giant pouched rats and technical survey dogs to detect landmines and tuberculosis.
Background & History
APOPO was established as a Belgian non-governmental organisation and a US non-profit. Its core mission involves the specialized training of animals to detect harmful substances. This work is carried out by their trained animals, referred to as HeroRATs and HeroDOGs.
Why Notable
The organization plays a significant role in environmental and public health detection. It achieves this through the innovative use of trained rats and dogs. Their efforts contribute to the safety of landmines and the control of tuberculosis.
In the News
Currently, APOPO is recognized for its specialized training programs. The relevance lies in their application of animal-based methods for detecting dangerous materials. This makes them important in fields related to mine safety and disease control.
