Giant Mutant Rats Invading Iran

"Rats have been a problem for many years in Tehran. As the BBC reported in 2000, officials back then launched a poison control program that they hoped would kill many of the estimated 25 million rats in the city.

Well, now there are reports that the poison isn't working that well and that the rat population still outnumbers the Iranian capital's humans. So, as The Times of London and Abu Dhabi's The National report, sniper squads have been deployed."*

Tehran has a huge problem- giant, cat-sized rats have emerged-- about 25 million, to be exact! How did the rats mutate, and why are snipers needed to stop them? Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola (Host, TYT University), and David Rubin (The Rubin Report) discuss.

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[Prka]

When I read "Giant Mutant Rats Invading Iran " my first thought was. "Oh, so Israel finally invaded then".

I'm sorry, I had to do it. I'm horrible, I know.

[djsufferthing]

Also happened in Tehran in the late 80's so they've definitely had this problem before.

[Eman_Puedama]

Thank you, I saw your comment, googled it, and you're correct.
Weird that this shows researchers didn't manage to stumble on this fact.

[SeanBryantHayes]

John killed it in this story. Good job, John-o. You need more call-ups to the main show.

[hyman]

I don't think it's limited to Iran. These huge rats have been around the globe for
a long time. It all depends on where they live and if the environment is conducive
to them growing big.
I have seen cat-size rats running underneath markets in Asia 30+yrs ago. They are
more well-known in recent times because of the internet. Cats in Asia then were
usually experts at catching mice and medium rats but would not dare taking on these monsters.

[lukaszepesi]

When I was on holiday in France (Normandy) with my parents and my sister we we saw a huge dead rat at the beach. I warned my mother just in time sso she didn't step on it. I was a lot younger then but I thought it was even a bit bigger than this one. The museums were pretty cool too.

[EuropeanPridex]

Right on FirstTube. You speak the truth. Thank you for the support comrade.

[LilacStar]

Goddamn! They've just caught Rush Limbaugh!

[flashofpink]

"If you want to be retweeted, all you have to do is spear an animal and hold it up to a camera." lol John! For the animals' sake, I hope that doesn't actually catch on! ;)

[bootlegbagels]

Iranians are completely justified in hating Americans. We deposed their prime minister in the 50s an dinstalled the Pahlavi absolute monarchy because of selfish oil interests. I'm pleased to see you know the history behind it, but please don't call me ignorant. I am not proud of America's actions that have hurt your country. I hope for the best for Iran in the future.

[livinginvancouverbc]

In the 80s I was a security guard in Toronto. I hear my co-worker shouting for help. I run around the building and find him sitting on an upside-down garbage can, freaking out.

We slid the can over to a door, stepped inside tipped the can over. Out came a rat so fucking big we both just screamed “Holy Shit!” over and over and over while it just glared back thru the window.

It was really evil-looking, as big as the biggest cat. It seriously freaked me out. I had spasms of shivers for an hour.

[Dondonovan]

The fact that an Iranian official mentions the word "evolution" in a press release is the most important thing, I think.

[LikaLaruku]

Not even half the size of a Capybara; now there's a rat who's back you could ride on.

[hermanncain]

That's beautiful. Who made that poem for you?

[farneyblakeley]

These guys misinterpreted the quote from the science guy. He wasn't saying the mutation wasn't caused by radiation. He was saying that these mutant rats likely wouldn't thrive like normal rats because they'll have some kind of weakness to go along with their obvious difference in size, ie there's something wrong with them

[Nemophilist]

That rat doesn't even look that big once you realise they're using a wide angle lens and look at the size of the guys hand.

[thesaigoncowboy]

So you're telling me that Iran is being invaded by a million Lil Waynes?

[Ngamotu]

You're absolutely right. But it's not only that, Iranians are more pro-western and in favour of modernity than most other nations in the region as well. It drives me up the wall how Iran is vilified by the media, more than any other nation in the region.

[JBofBrisbane]

I noticed in both photos the people are holding the rat at arm's (or pitchfork's) length towards the camera, making the rat appear HUGE compared to the person holding it. It's a case of forced perspective in reverse.

[thhorsman]

The second guy who caught the giant rat in his back yard looks like a robot ..