Cambodian Rat Ronin Breaks Record for Most Landmines Detected

A rat named Ronin has achieved a remarkable feat—not for his tricks or speed, but for his life-saving abilities. Since 2021, the African giant pouched rat has successfully detected 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnances, marking the highest number ever identified by a rat. Ronin collaborates with the nonprofit APOPO in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia, an area recognized as one of the most heavily mined regions globally.

His achievement received official recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records on April 4, a date that coincides with International Day for Mine Awareness and World Rat Day—a perfect occasion to honor the rodent’s influence.

Ronin surpassed the former record set by Magawa, another rat trained by APOPO, who discovered 71 landmines and 38 additional unexploded devices before retiring in 2021 and passing away in 2022. Like Magawa, Ronin employs his keen sense of smell to identify chemical compounds in explosives, enabling him to locate landmines more swiftly and precisely than a human with a metal detector.

Due to their light weight, trained rats such as Ronin can navigate over landmines without setting them off. They operate within a grid system alongside human handlers and typically dedicate just 30 minutes each day to fieldwork, which helps them maintain their health and concentration.

The Guinness Book of World Records states that Ronin’s work is “making a tangible difference to people who have been blighted for decades by the fear that one misstep… could be their last.”

Even after many years of demining initiatives, Cambodia continues to have an estimated 4 to 6 million landmines hidden underground from conflicts that occurred between the 1960s and 1990s. These explosives remain a constant danger to civilians, especially in rural regions.

Global initiatives such as the 1997 Ottawa Treaty have aimed to prohibit the use of anti-personnel landmines; however, these devices continue to be found in numerous countries, frequently lingering long after conflicts have concluded.

Ronin’s impressive record is a testament to animal intelligence and highlights the enduring dangers of war. With every detection, this brave little hero contributes to Cambodia's journey toward a future free of landmines.

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