PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Zoo is welcoming a pair of giant rodents known for their size, smarts and sense of smell. Now, they are ready to be seen by visitors at the zoo, officials announced Friday.
According to the zoo, the two East African savannah pouched rats — named Capri and Sun — arrived at the zoo earlier in 2025.
“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.”
The zoo explained that the rats get the “pouched” part of their name due to their “hamster-like cheek pockets used for storing food.”…