Rats with tiny backpacks are being trained to find earthquake survivors buried under rubble.
The rodents can carry microphones, location trackers and video equipment.
Research scientist Dr Donna Kean, 33, from Glasgow, has been training the animals in Tanzania, East Africa.
She said: “Rats would be able to get into small spaces to get to victims buried in rubble.
“We have the potential to speak to victims through the rat.”
The rodents are also trained to respond to a ‘beep’, which calls them back to their base.
Donna added: “They are so agile, they are so good at moving through all kinds of different environments.
“They are perfect for search and rescue-type work.
“They are very good at surviving in different environments which just shows how suitable they are for search and rescue work.”
Donna is working with the non-profit organisation APOPO, which has already trained African pouched rats to find landmines and sniff out TB from human sputum samples.
She said: “They are very trainable, the first stage is to train them to come back to base point - they respond to a beep.
“There is a misconception they are dirty and unhygienic.
“They are well looked after with us, they are sociable animals.”
It is hoped Donna’s rats will be tested in the field in Turkey, a country prone to earthquakes.
She said: “We hope it will save lives, the results are really promising.”
