Paris races against time to tackle rat infestation before Olympics

As Paris gears up for the upcoming Olympics, the city is working hard to manage its long-standing rat problem. With an influx of visitors expected, officials are determined to ensure the city's rat population does not become a major issue.

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"All of the Olympic sites and celebration areas were analysed (for rats) before the Games," said Deputy Mayor Anne-Claire Boux, who oversees public health, in an interview with AFP.

Paris has a notable history with rats, and last year Mayor Anne Hidalgo suggested that rather than trying to eradicate them entirely, a strategy of "cohabitation" might be more practical.

Paris's approach to living with rats

The French National Academy of Medicine estimates that Paris is home to about six million rats, roughly two rats for every person. A British magazine columnist even joked that the 2024 Olympics should use the motto: "Citius, Altius, Fortius, Rattus."

Rats have played a significant role in the history of Paris for many years. During the 14th century, they helped in the dispersion of the bubonic plague, responsible for wiping out approximately half of the city's inhabitants.

Lately, there have been numerous approaches attempted to manage the number of rats. In 2017, airtight trash bins were introduced, and mass extermination campaigns were launched. Some even suggested using birth control for rats. However, the city's approach has evolved.

From 2021 to 2023, Paris undertook "Project Armageddon," a study to understand where rats thrive and address misconceptions. This initiative aimed to balance managing the rat population with coexisting with them.

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"Rats are present in Paris, as in all major French cities, so the question of cohabitation necessarily arises," said Paris Animals Zoopolis, an animal rights group.

Gilles Demodice, a manager in the city¡¯s animal control department, told The New York Times, "Rats play a very useful role for us because what they eat we do not need to dispose of, so it¡¯s very economical for us, and when rats are underground they also clean the pipes with their fur when they run through them."

Deputy Mayor Anne-Claire Boux echoed this sentiment: "Ultimately, no-one should aim to exterminate Paris¡¯s rats, and they¡¯re useful in maintaining the sewers. The point is that they should stay in the sewers."

Preparing for the Olympics

With the Olympics approaching, Paris is taking significant steps to manage its rat issue. The city¡¯s rat hunters, known as the "Smash" team, are working with the Paris organising committee to seal sewer exits and implement other measures to keep rodents out of sight.

Deputy Mayor Boux pointed out that food scraps and overflowing waste bins are the main culprits of the rat problem. To address this, new rat-proof bins are being installed. "The most important thing is that the bins are sealed and closed," she stressed.

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City workers have thoroughly cleaned boulevards and squares, and historic buildings have been refreshed. To ensure cleanliness, Paris has also deployed "dengue detectives" to track tiger mosquitoes and prevent outbreaks, according to Fortune.

AP

During the Olympics, 7,500 cleaning and collection workers will handle waste management and street cleaning. Last year, a three-week strike by these workers left 10,000 tonnes of garbage on the streets, showing their crucial role. They will receive bonuses of up to 1,900 euros for working through the Olympics, with private contractors also helping to keep the city clean, AFP reports.

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Deputy Mayor Antoine Guillou expressed confidence: "I¡¯m not at all worried (about rats)... the Games will help us show definitively that this idea that you run into lots of rats in Paris is false. There are some, we deal with them, but they¡¯re not an issue specific to Paris nor on the scale that is sometimes suggested in a caricatural way."

(With agency inputs)

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