Ronin the Rat Breaks Ground: New Landmine Detection Record Set

Ronin, the landmine-sniffing rodent, is revolutionizing demining efforts in Cambodia, having uncovered 109 mines and unexploded ordnance pieces, setting a world record that highlights the ongoing battle against war remnants in the country.

In a remarkable advancement in demining efforts, Ronin, a five-year-old African giant pouched rat, has set a new world record by becoming the first rodent to discover over 100 landmines alongside other hazardous war remnants in Cambodia. Since beginning his work with the charity Apopo in 2021, Ronin has detected 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnance items, dramatically contributing to land reclamation efforts in a country long plagued by the remnants of civil war that officially ended in 1998.

The Guinness Book of World Records praised Ronin’s “crucial work,” noting that it significantly eases the fears of locals who live with the daily threat of unexploded munitions. This achievement underlines the importance of initiatives led by organizations like Apopo, which trains these intelligent rodents to locate chemicals found in landmines. Their small size allows them to safely navigate areas that would otherwise be perilous for human workers.

Apopo, based in Tanzania, boasts a team of 104 rodent recruits affectionately termed HeroRATS, who are trained to conduct demining tasks efficiently. The charity notes that while a human using a metal detector may take four days to clear an area the size of a tennis court, Ronin and his fellow rats can accomplish the same task in just 30 minutes. In addition to their demining capabilities, these rats are also adept at detecting tuberculosis, offering faster results than traditional laboratory methods.

Ronin’s achievements surpass the previous record held by Magawa, another HeroRAT who had sniffed out 71 landmines and was awarded a gold medal in 2020. Since the inception of their demining program 25 years ago, Apopo has successfully cleared 169,713 landmines and other explosives globally, with 52,000 of these located in Cambodia. However, the legacy of conflict continues, evidenced by the estimated four to six million landmines left buried in the country, as stated by the Landmine Monitor. Apopo’s vital work also extends to other war-affected regions, including Ukraine, South Sudan, and Azerbaijan as the fight against these hidden dangers continues.