Meet Giant East African Savannah Pouched Rats Capri And Sun

Which animal at the zoo has the keenest nose? Asian elephants, African painted dogs or black bears probably come to mind — but a new pair of sniffers might have them beat. Capri and Sun are East African savannah pouched rats, a species known throughout the world for its smarts, size and sense of smell. The duo arrived at the zoo earlier this year, and they’re already showing off their remarkable skills to visitors. “Pouched rats are very intelligent, and they have some of the best noses in the world,” said Eliza Lee, who oversees the zoo’s ambassador animal area. “In Africa, these rats are trained to sniff out landmines and signs of illegal wildlife trafficking.”