Random Utterly Bizarre Animals Have Been Given Jobs In Human World (13 items)

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  (#1) Bees Detect Explosives In Airports

  You've probably seen sniffer dogs assisting airport security in checking for illegal items, but several facilities are now teaching bees to help find potential bombs. Researchers in the United States have discovered that the insects have as strong a sense of smell as dogs, and can be trained to just as effectively find explosives.

  The technique involves having the bees associate the smell of certain materials and chemicals used in making bombs with sugar water, causing the bees to believe nectar is close and extend their proboscises (their tubular mouths). Special equipment can then recognize this behavior and send an alert. The method is seen as a great alternative to traditional processes, as the bees can be trained almost immediately and can be hidden in small portable cases, making them ideal for concealed detection.
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  (#2) A Baboon Ran A Railway Signal Station

  South African signalman James Wide had a terrible accident in the late 1800s: he fell onto the track in front of an oncoming train, and ended up losing both of his legs. After the incident, a chacma baboon named Jack was trained to help him continue his duties.

  The baboon aided Wide by pushing his homemade wheelchair and operating the signal switches for the railway. Jack gained notoriety when the situation was officially brought to the attention of the railway company. Tests showed the baboon was capable of carrying out the tasks under supervision from his owner, and the railway company hired him as a full-time employee. During his nine years of employment, Jack was paid 20 cents a day and given half a bottle of beer every week.
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  (#3) Ferrets Can Double As Electricians

  Ferrets are known for their lightning speed and flexibility, which allow them to quickly travel through tunnels and navigate through hard-to-reach areas. These skills mean they have often been employed to lay electrical cables in places where engineers are unable to get to themselves. Up until the 1960s, Boeing had their own team of ferrets to carry cables around aircraft that they were building. The animals have even been used for concerts, like in 1999, when a collection of them were used to solve some cabling problems at a gig in the UK.

  While ferrets have proven useful many times, they haven't been employed as much lately; they can easily lose interest in the projects and fall asleep while working.
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  (#4) Dogs Serve As Mayors Of A United States Town

  The small town of Rabbit Hash, KY, only has 315 residents, and would likely be unknown if it wasn’t for the fact that they have had a string of dogs as their mayor since 1998. Their most famous incumbent for the official position was perhaps Junior Cochran. The black Labrador served as mayor of the town from 2004 until his death in 2008, at the age of 15. The current Rabbit Hash mayor is a pit bull named Brynneth Pawltro, who is backed up by two ambassadors in the form of a border collie and an Australian shepherd.
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  (#5) Guard Monkeys Protect Against Other Animal Thieves

  In New Delhi in 2001, rhesus monkeys began stealing items from government buildings and destroying valuable equipment. So, the Indian government opted to simply employ bigger monkeys to guard their facilities. They theorized that the large langur monkeys would frighten off the smaller animals, forcing them to move into new areas away from the civil service buildings. Paid in bananas, the langur employees proved their worth by attacking any other monkeys on sight.
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  (#6) Landmine-Detecting Rats Clear Warzones

  Warzones can be riddled with landmines long after conflicts have ended. Unfortunately, because the explosives are often so well hidden, they are usually only discovered when they're set off by mistake. Discovering where these devices are buried can be incredibly difficult - and that's where African pouched rats come in. These animals have a keen sense of smell that allows them to detect the landmines under the dirt, while their small size ensures they won’t set the explosives off. The rats are extraordinarily effective, and are able to sniff through 2,000 square feet in just 20 minutes, compared to the four days a person would require for the same task.
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  (#7) A King Penguin Is An Honorary Member Of Norway’s Royal Guard

  Sir Nils Olav is a king penguin that lives at Edinburgh Zoo. However, the bird is probably best known for his association with Norway, as he is an honorary member of the country’s royal guards. He was knighted in 2008 as part of an elaborate ceremony, and was given a promotion in 2016. The honorary officer is now officially a brigadier. Dozens of Norwegian troops attended the promotion ceremony, where the penguin inspected the troops.

  Penguins at the Scottish zoo have been knighted by Norway since the 1970s, in part to demonstrate the strong diplomatic ties between the countries. The tradition began when a visiting Norwegian lieutenant suggested that they become honorary members of the troops. Sir Nils Olav is the third penguin to receive the honor.
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  (#8) Sheep Help Prune Vineyards For High Quality Wine

  Many vineyards use pesticides to help control insects and weeds that might threaten crops. However, recent consumer trends show customers are increasingly seeking organic and chemical-free products, so winemakers have started looking for more natural maintenance solutions. Taking inspiration from New Zealand farmers, a Canadian vineyard owner began using lambs to prune the leaves from vines so the fruit could grow better. The small size of the young sheep means they can’t reach grapes and aren’t heavy enough to trample the soil, while their droppings provide excellent organic fertilizer.
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  (#9) A Cat Is The Chief Mouser To The U.K.’s Cabinet Office

  Larry the cat has become something of a celebrity since 2011. After being rescued from a shelter, he was brought into 10 Downing Street - the official residence of the British Prime Minister - in order to help with an infestation of mice and rats. According to the official government website, the cat "spends his days greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defenses, and testing antique furniture for napping quality. His day-to-day responsibilities also include contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house."

  Larry is far from the first cat to take up residence at Downing Street; many previous Prime Ministers owned cats as both pets and rat hunters. However, Larry differs, as he is considered a member of the civil service and therefore is not the personal property of the Prime Minister. He stays at the location, regardless of who is in office.
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  (#10) Coconut-Picking Monkeys In Asia Have Replaced Humans

  It can be a rather laborious and dangerous job to collect coconuts from trees. To solve this problem, many Asian countries employ monkeys, particularly macaques, to do the work for them. These wily and nimble animals are able to pick more than 20 times the amount a human can, and they are often trained and kept as pets by families who look after them.
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  (#11) This Puppy Sniffs Out Pests In A Museum

  A Weimaraner pup named Riley officially joined the staff of Boston's Museum of Fine Arts in January 2018. He's receiving special training to sniff out pests that could harm the museum's collections.

  If Riley is an especially good boy at his job, other organizations with fragile collections, like libraries, could adopt similar programs to protect their own valuables.
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  (#12) U.S. Navy Combat Dolphins Carry Out Military Tasks

  As part of the Navy Marine Mammal Program, the U.S. military has trained a number of bottlenose dolphins in various combat and military roles. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego has trained 85 dolphins so far, at a cost of $14 million per year. They were even used to guard an ammunition pier during the Vietnam War, detecting and deterring enemy soldiers who might try to swim to the location.

  The high intelligence of the sea mammals and the ease with which they take up training make them valuable assets, and they are able to carry out surveillance and clear mines in enemy waters.
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  (#13) This Dog Is A Top Model

  Known as "Menswear Dog" for his stylish modeling of male clothing, Bodhi is a Shiba Inu that has taken the fashion world by storm. His Instagram page boasts hundreds of thousands of followers, and he has taken jobs all around the world, accompanied by his owners Dave Fung and Yena Kim. From his home in New York City, the dog is able to earn as much as $15,000 per month, thanks to lucrative contracts from Ted Baker, ASOS, Hudson Shoes, and Purina, as well as sponsored posts on social media.

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