Mongabay: Wildlife Trade, Rats in Tanzania

For this episode in Mongabay’s illegal wildlife trade series, animation was used to spotlight an unlikely frontline defense against trafficking: trained African giant pouched rats. The video combines investigative storytelling with clear, accessible design to explain how these rats detect trafficked wildlife products—such as ivory, rhino horn, and pangolin scales—using their intelligence, powerful sense of smell, and compact size. The animations break down complex biological concepts into short, visual sequences, highlighting the rats’ cognitive abilities, olfactory system, and physical scale in relation to real-world detection scenarios. A cohesive visual language—paper textures, simplified diagrams, and restrained colour—keeps the focus on clarity and credibility, reinforcing Mongabay’s journalistic approach while maintaining a sense of wonder around this innovative conservation solution. The result is a dynamic explainer that helps audiences quickly understand why these animals are uniquely effective in the fight against wildlife crime, grounding the story in science while making it emotionally engaging and easy to follow.

Mongabay

CREDITS

DESIGN & ANIMATION: Kari Pieterse & Margaret To

PRODUCTION: Lucia Torres & Samantha Lee

STORYBOARDS

The storyboard outlines how live-action reporting is intercut with animation to support the narrative. Animated sequences are used at key moments to explain why African giant pouched rats are effective at detecting trafficked wildlife products, focusing on intelligence, sense of smell, and physical size. The approach clarifies scientific concepts while maintaining the pace and credibility of the live-action reporting.

STYLEFRAMES

The animation uses a restrained, editorial visual language inspired by print journalism and scientific illustration. Hand-drawn textures, simple diagrams, labels, and scale markers are layered over a muted paper background to explain complex ideas—intelligence, sense of smell, and size—with clarity and precision. Limited colour and purposeful motion ensure the animation integrates smoothly with live-action footage, functioning as a visual explainer that supports the reporting and reinforces the film’s credibility.

IMPACT

The animation transformed technical science into an intuitive, human-centred story—helping viewers clearly understand how trained rats are actively disrupting illegal wildlife trafficking. By visualizing intelligence, scent detection, and scale, the film makes an overlooked conservation tool visible, memorable, and credible, thereby supporting broader awareness of innovative, low-cost solutions that protect endangered species.

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