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Ronin the Rat Receives Guinness World Record for Detecting Over 100 Landmines
A remarkable African giant pouched rat named Ronin has been recognized by Guinness World Records for his life-saving work in Cambodia. Ronin has detected an astounding 109 landmines and 15 pieces of unexploded ordnance since 2021, making him the first rodent to reach this milestone. He works with Apopo, a non-profit organization that trains rats to locate these dangerous remnants of war.
Cambodia is still dealing with the legacy of a 20-year civil war that ended in 1998, leaving millions of unexploded munitions scattered across the country. Ronin’s work is crucial in making these areas safe for Cambodians, allowing them to live without the constant fear of accidental detonation.
Apopo, based in Tanzania, currently has over 100 “HeroRATS” like Ronin. These specially trained rats can detect the chemicals in landmines and other explosives.
Their small size prevents them from triggering the devices, and they are remarkably efficient. According to Apopo, a rat can clear a tennis court-sized area in 30 minutes – a task that could take a human with a metal detector up to four days.
The organization also uses these talented rodents to detect tuberculosis.
Ronin’s achievement surpasses the previous record held by Magawa, another HeroRAT who detected 71 landmines and received a gold medal for his service in 2020. Over the past 25 years, Apopo has cleared over 169,000 landmines and explosives globally, with more than 52,000 found in Cambodia.
The organization also operates in other war-torn countries, including Ukraine, South Sudan, and Azerbaijan. Despite these efforts, an estimated four to six million landmines and unexploded munitions remain buried in Cambodia.