United Kingdom TV reporter Stephen Gates describes rat meat as the sweetest he has ever eaten. In some parts of India, rats are given as a form of bride price and as gifts from mothers-in-law to daughters-in-law.
A festival called “Yunang Aaran” is held in a remote village in Northeast India, and rat meat is paramount.In rural Kenya, many homesteads have cats, not because they are loved as pets, but to help get rid of mice and rats in the houses.”Hi paka haina maana”. You will often here these words from a homeowner rebuking his or her cat. These words are often thrown to cats that are comfortable and cannot hunt rats anymore.People hate rats at the sight of them. Well, not only Kenyans have disdain for rats.
Two weeks ago, New York City announced that it was looking for a ‘bloodthirsty’ person to help in the war against rats and rodents.In an advert posted by mayor Eric Adams, the job title was ‘The Director of Rodent Mitigation’ or the ‘rat czar’ with a salary between KSh147 million to KSh208 million per year.Related StoriesCity offers a KSh208 million job per year to kill rats and rodentsSurprised by Munya’s millet suggestion? This Minister asked Kenyans to eat rats!Denmark’s Christian Eriksen collapses on the field against Finland’There’s nothing I hate more than rats'”
The ideal candidate is highly-motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty, determined to look at all solutions from various angles, including improving operational efficiency, data collection, technology innovation, trash management, and wholesale slaughter,” read the ad.The job description was filled with rodent puns and anti-rat epithets. “There’s NOTHING I hate more than rats. If you have the drive, determination, and killer instinct needed to fight New York City’s relentless rat population — then your dream job awaits,” the mayor said.Well, rats are loved tooDid you know that rat meat is more valuable than chicken in Northeastern India? Yes, a celebration without rat delicacy in this region isn’t complete.According to research conducted by Viktor Benno Meyer of University of Oulu in Finland, rat intestines, the liver, legs, testicles and tail are edible and should be flavoured with salt, ginger and pepper.”Rat tails and legs are very delicious,” reads the report by Viktor Benno in part. Viktor discovered that rats are not only valued as a source of food, but they are also a form of bride price.
Rats are also gifted to a daughter-in-law as a symbol to welcome her to her mother-in-law’s home. Sometimes back, United Kingdom TV reporter Stephen Gates visited a rat-rearing farm in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital city. He is quoted saying rat meat is the sweetest he has ever consumed in his life. He describes the meat as juicy with oils that melt in one’s mouth