'Sniffer Mice' Used To Detect Bombs And Drugs

Teams of highly trained mice could be used to sniff out explosives and drugs at airports.

The system is being pioneered by Israeli firm Tamar Group.

It uses specially trained mice equipped with biological sensors which detect changes in their heart rate, breathing and other factors.

The animals are trained to react when they smell explosives or drugs, and their reactions are recorded by a computer.

If the mice detect something inspectors or security officers are then alerted.

Tamar Group CEO Boaz Hayun told The Times Of Israel: "Animals' senses are far more well developed than humans', and more well developed than even the most advanced security sensors created by man.

"Our system takes animals and turns them into biological sensors, using specially-trained laboratory mice and measuring their reactions to outside stimuli.

"They are placed at the entry point in a security checkpoint or installation, and when they detect something that appears suspicious, the sensor records their physical reactions and communicates it to a computer that analyses the data and alerts security personnel."

The system is on show at a security conference in Tel Aviv.