Giant rat celebrated for detecting one of the world’s deadliest illnesses: 'We really do see them as heroes'

Giant rat celebrated for detecting one of the world’s deadliest illnesses: 'We really do see them as heroes'

Carolina isn't your average retiree. After seven years of devoted work, Carolina, an African giant pouched rat, had sniffed out more than 3,000 cases of tuberculosis that medical tests had missed, likely helping 30,000 more people avoid infection, according to National Geographic. Carolina worked for APOPO, a nonprofit organization that has 40 trained rats fighting TB in Tanzania and Ethiopia. These remarkable animals aren't your typical city pe…