In SAR operations speed is of the essence to maximize the chances of survival for the victims. This is achieved by a combination of people, animals and machines/technology: assessing the site and dividing the work, identifying victim locations and subsequent victim recovery. Where dogs are formidable in their contribution to this effort, APOPO is now introducing a new animal to complement the animal component: RescueRATs. Apopo has been in the forefront of humanitarian demining and tuberculosis detection using such rats, and has a built up a solid reputation for combining scientific rigor with real-world impact, offering scalable and cost-effective solutions for conservation and public health. RescueRATs will fit into the gaps of the current systems. Where dogs provide indications based on where the odour exits the debris, locating survivors is often hindered by technological and environmental limits (cannot easily penetrate debris, navigate complex environments, or provide direct visual access inside collapsed structures). Through cutting-edge research and cross-disciplinary engineering, APOPO’s RescueRATs are being trained to navigate debris and locate survivors, equipped with custom backpacks that deliver real-time video, audio, and GPS data to rescue teams. Combining this with technology that can evaluate that data can enhance the speed of the recovery process.