Kremlin Orders 3,200 Mice. No One Knows Why

4 years ago Nature

3,200 white mice have been ordered by the Kremlin guard: the elite troops who protect President Putin.

Kremlin orders 3,200 miceRed Square Moscow, Image by Bart Slingerland

The bulk buy has been shrouded in secrecy. Apparently all that is known is that the requirements were that the mice had to be female and weigh no more than 18 grams each.

An official from the service said "Everyone is wondering what they are for. But if they were ordered then that means they are needed." The same official also refused to speculate what the mice were for, saying there were "more important things to think about."

All of this is pretty strange. Of course, there are some plausible explanations: could an elite army of loyal rodents be the natural choice against the numerous threats issued by elephants against the Kremlin? Will the mice play a role in testing toxic and dangerous chemicals? Or are they there simply to feed the falcons, which are kept in the Kremlin to scare off crows?

Nonetheless, according to Reuters, the Kremlin has found a supplier and is going to be paying 475,776 roubles ($20,000) for the mice. Can anyone beat that?

Info from Moscow News

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Written by: Chris

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Comments

Old Comments

saeed says

Apr 22nd, 2009 at 12am
http://ariantv117.googlepages.com/better69-Optimized.jpg please send this picture to mr pootin

Mike says

Apr 27th, 2008 at 12am
I think they want to cover their own Software market. Micerosoft... LOL

Monkey325 says

Apr 4th, 2008 at 12am
Lol at all you funny peeps comments but you have all overlooked the obvious. The rats will probably be used to create a plague which will be unleashed upon all humanity. That or they are training for a new pied piper.

David Worth says

Apr 3rd, 2008 at 12am
As I have pointed out before elsewhere. This is all Harry Huttons fault.

lotusflower says

Apr 3rd, 2008 at 12am
Perhaps to fatten the cats :-)fattened cats are then made part of a kind of exotic sausage meat eeewww Joke:-) Cheers!

Allison says

Apr 3rd, 2008 at 12am
you don’t need that many to make a fully grown man to hide under an overcoat do you?
Actually, at 16 grams each you would need more....

bobbybob says

Mar 30th, 2008 at 12am
$6.25 per mouse? That's outrageous.

NO! says

Mar 30th, 2008 at 12am
the kremlin guard is trying to make super mice! canada already has an army like this (link below) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/brianbogdan/root/october/SaskGopher.jpg watch out guys WW4 will be fought with mice......not men

Nate says

Mar 29th, 2008 at 12am
Did anyone see the Simpsons episode where they milked rats for the school milk program?

Phil says

Mar 29th, 2008 at 12am
Genetic experiments and the outcome on the off-spring. Or an old Roman dish, mouse stuffed with pine nuts?