5 Animals with Life-Saving Jobs

But Magawa is far from the only animal to do this kind of work.

For starters, APOPO works with a whole team of dogs and rats to sniff out buried explosives and tuberculosis in sick patients.

His story is also a testament to animals around the world that do important work to keep humans safe.

In Warsaw, Poland, clams monitor the city’s water supply for contaminants.

Ever heard the phrase “canary in a coal mine?” There’s an important backstory to it:

For a large part of the 1900s, miners would bring the birds on site to monitor for carbon monoxide.

Since they’re small and have high metabolisms, the canaries would succumb to toxic breathing conditions well before the miners.

This left the workers time to evacuate the mine to safety.

Today, pigeons help in similar ways. Researchers have measured lead levels in the blood of city pigeons to gauge the amount of toxins in the atmosphere.

It’s no secret that dolphins are incredibly smart.

The U.S. military deploys these savvy mammals to the depths of the ocean to sniff out underwater bombs.

There seems to be no shortage of tasks our beloved furry companions can do.

Dogs have also aided in rescue missions, such as the famous St. Bernards that for hundreds of years helped save people lost in avalanches.

And, of course, they’re sources of friendship and emotional support.