The Rotary Club of Funchal has officially adopted Baraka, a HeroRAT trained by the Belgian non-governmental organisation APOPO to detect landmines in Angola, as part of an initiative to support humanitarian operations in territories affected by armed conflict.
Through this adoption, the Madeiran club is directly contributing to the work carried out by APOPO, an organisation that for more than two decades has used specially trained African giant rats to locate landmines and assist in the diagnosis of tuberculosis through scent detection.
Baraka, whose name means “blessing” in Swahili, was born on the 4th of August 2022 and is currently deployed in Angola, where he is supporting demining operations. According to APOPO, he is a curious and playful animal.
HeroRATs are trained to detect the chemical compounds found in explosives while ignoring irrelevant metallic objects, enabling them to work efficiently in contaminated areas. Their low body weight also prevents them from triggering landmines, making operations safe for the animals.
According to APOPO, a trained rat can inspect an area the size of a tennis court in around 30 minutes, a task that could take several days using conventional methods.
The Rotary Club of Funchal believes the initiative represents a practical way of supporting communities affected by landmines, a problem that continues to restrict mobility, hinder agricultural activity, and delay the return to normal life in several regions.
The organisation states that support received through the adoption of HeroRATs contributes to mine and tuberculosis detection programmes, animal training and welfare, and the recovery of safe land for local populations.
As part of the adoption, the club will receive regular updates on Baraka’s progress and activities, allowing members to follow the impact of his work on the ground.
APOPO is a Belgium-based non-governmental organisation dedicated to the eradication of landmines and the fight against tuberculosis. Through the training of African giant rats, APOPO supports humanitarian and public health missions in several countries around the world.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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