Ronin, a five-year-old rat trained by the charity APOPO, has become the first rodent to discover more than 100 landmines in Cambodia, significantly contributing to land reclamation efforts amid ongoing challenges posed by unexploded ordnance.
Ronin the Rat Breaks Landmine-Sniffing Record in Cambodia
Ronin the Rat Breaks Landmine-Sniffing Record in Cambodia
The African giant pouched rat has uncovered over 100 landmines, aiding Cambodia's recovery from years of war.
In a remarkable achievement, Ronin, a five-year-old African giant pouched rat, has set a new world record by becoming the first rodent to detect over 100 landmines and other remnants of war in Cambodia. Since 2021, Ronin has uncovered 109 landmines and 15 items of unexploded ordnance, according to the charity APOPO, which specializes in training these remarkable animals.
Cambodia grapples with a legacy of unexploded munitions left over from approximately 20 years of civil conflict that concluded in 1998. The continuing danger of landmines significantly affects local communities, as the Guinness Book of World Records highlighted the life-threatening reality of living where a single misstep could be fatal.
APOPO operates from Tanzania and has trained 104 rodents, affectionately named HeroRATS. These small but effective animals are trained to hone in on chemicals associated with landmines and ordnance without triggering explosions due to their weight. Their efficiency is evident, as a single rat can inspect an area equivalent to a tennis court in just 30 minutes—a process that would take a human with a metal detector four days.
In addition to landmine detection, these HeroRATS can also identify tuberculosis faster than standard lab techniques. Each rat undergoes approximately a year of training to master these vital skills.
Ronin's achievements in detecting landmines in the northern Preah Vihear region have eclipsed the previous record held by fellow rat Magawa, who discovered 71 mines and was awarded a gold medal for courage in 2020.
Since APOPO's establishment 25 years ago, the organization has cleared nearly 170,000 landmines and other explosives globally, with over 52,000 located in Cambodia alone. The charity is also active in various conflict-affected regions, including Ukraine, South Sudan, and Azerbaijan. Despite these efforts, it is estimated that between four and six million landmines and unexploded ordnance remain buried across Cambodia, underscoring the continued need for innovative and effective demining solutions.
