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How many species of rats exist today? Why is the Pied Piper as a profession in demand in Indian cities? What is common in rats with primates? How many babies can give birth to a female rat? As rats are guided in the dark? Dangerous than rats to humans? The answers to these questions and more you will learn from this issue. (carefully! Some photos may seem unpleasant or even frightening)

1. Remember the tale of the Pied Piper? And in many major Indian cities like Mumbai or New Delhi this profession is very real today. The main fighters against rodent populations here are the specially hired people whom they call “night rat killers.” “Night” - because they have to work at night.

2. Bombay Pied Piper bear metal tub full of rats killed on city streets. Daily rate of contemporary Indian Pied Piper 30 rats. Everyone who is able to fill more than 30 pieces, is awarded for each carcass above the norm.

3. Work Ratslayer - not for the faint of heart. Occupation is not only unattractive in every sense, but also very dangerous because the rats are carriers of many diseases.

4. In some regions of India, rats broil on the fire.

5. The poorest people of India and representatives of low-caste Indians (musahar) long ago introduced into your diet fried rat meat.

6. Fried rat has long been sold in local markets. The authorities in Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, officially called residents of the state to move to rat meat to cope with rising food prices and keep stocks of rice.

7. In India, the attitude towards these rodents are rather contradictory. For example, at the Hindu temple of the goddess Durga in Rajasthan rats revered as sacred animals and sing them with milk.

8. The allegation that, in such Western cities as New York, the number of rats is twice the number of people from the truth. In fact, the population of rats in New York is about a quarter of a million individuals.

9. However, the rats were still “champions for the survival of” Planet Earth, as to endure the most severe conditions.

10. Rats are particularly dangerous in that they can eat almost everything that comes their way. The main source of food for rats in the western cities - are the remnants of food industry, fast food: kebabs, burgers and pizza remnants. In this regard, even in Britain launched a campaign urging to clean the city streets.

11. From ancient times, people are struggling with rodents with poisoned baits.

12. To date, there are about 50 species of rats. The most common - it is black and gray rat. Black rats on average, smaller Pasiukov (Norway rat). They are omnivorous, but prefer to plant feed and live in homes and warehouses. Over the past few years, their population declined considerably, since they were ousted gray rats

13. Rat or Pasyuk spread around the world much more. She also omnivorous, but prefers more meat and fish.

14. Rats are particularly active at night. These rodents are not very good vision, but hearing, smell and touch them excellent. In total darkness guided by their rat whiskers, which represent one of the major sensory organs of these rodents. Rat whiskers vibrate with a frequency around 8 Hz.

15. Pregnancy female rat is three weeks, and immediately after birth they are again ready to conceive. Thus, 12 weeks a rat can give birth to 100 pups.

16. If you think that rats are strong only in reproduction, you are mistaken. In tests on rats wit give very good results.

17. Scientists also found that rats can avoid tasks that they can not do. Although previously thought that only primates have the ability to assess their own forces.

18. The sense of smell plays in the life of rats the greatest role. Even at large distances, they can accurately detect traces of food. With the smell of rat define their group and assign an area.

19. In rats, there is a pronounced sense of nepotism. One rat group can connect up to 200 animals. The group has its own “taster”, which checks for food. Also, rats like to tickle each other, come together.

20. Apart from the fact that rats spoil food, as they are known as carriers of many infectious and parasitic diseases of man. The most feared of diseases carried by rats, is the bubonic plague.