Rats!

I'm actually quite fond of rats, despite the fact that they are destructive, disease-carrying vermin, because they are incredibly clever and seem to have just a wicked wee sense of humor. (And it's not like they're destructive and disease-carrying to be mean; they're just being rats!) Domestic rats that are kept as pets can be lovely little things, every bit as affectionate and snuggly as a cat or dog can be. They're highly underrated creatures.

And I think Matilda and Olivia would absolutely love it if I brought home a newly-discovered Indonesian giant rat for them as a new playpal!


Mammalogist Martua Sinaga holds a very amiable giant rat.

Researchers in a remote Indonesian jungle have discovered a giant rat that is about five times the size of a typical city rat … scientists said Monday. Unearthing new species of mammals in the 21st century is considered very rare. The discoveries by a team of American and Indonesian scientists are being studied further to confirm their status.

The animals were found in the Foja mountains rainforest in eastern Papua province in a June expedition, said U.S.-based Conservation International, which organized the trip in the Southeast Asian nation along with the Indonesian Institute of Science.

"The giant rat is about five times the size of a typical city rat," said Kristofer Helgen, a scientist with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. "With no fear of humans, it apparently came into the camp several times during the trip."

Awwww! It just wanted some schnoogles!