‘Surprised by their size’: Oregon Zoo welcomes giant pouched rats

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.”

At the Oregon Zoo, Capri and Sun hunt for lavender-scented targets that are hidden under leaves, zoo officials said, noting the rats are awarded snacks such as sweet potato or broccoli if they find the target.

While training or meeting visitors, zoo staff walk the rats on leashes and small harnesses.

“Well, not that small,” the Oregon Zoo said in a press release Friday.

“People are always surprised by their size,” Lee added. “Pouched rats can be 30 inches long and weigh more than three pounds. That’s as big as a small dog!”  

Capri and Sun live behind the scenes at the zoo. However, Lee said the rats often venture out with staff to help guests learn about the species.

Visitors at the zoo can meet the rodents in the animal encounter theater, where they occasionally appear at the zookeeper chats at 12:30 and 2:00 p.m.

The giant rats are found in the savannahs and forests of Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Oregon Zoo works with the Niassa Carnivore Project in that region, offering education and training for people living inside the Niassa Special Reserve. They also help to mitigate carnivore attacks to reduce disease risk for people and wildlife such as the East African savannah pouched rats.