A landmine-hunting rat in Cambodia has set a new world record after sniffing out more than 100 mines and other devices.
Ronin, a giant African pouched rat, has tracked down 109 landmines and 15 other potentially deadly war remnants since his deployment to northern Preah Vihear province in August 2021, according to Belgian charity APOPO.
The prolific rodent, five, has now been named the most successful Mine Detection Rat (MDR) in the organisation’s history.
He has also claimed the Guiness World Record for the most landmines detected by a rat.
Ronin’s vital work ensured he surpassed the previous record holder Magawa, who found 71 landmines and 38 UXOs – explosive weapons that did not explode when they were deployed – during his five-year service before retirement in 2021.
The late rodent was awarded a gold medal for heroism for clearing mines from about 225,000 square metres of land before his untimely death in 2022.
Ronin, however, could have at least two more years of detection work ahead of him.
Lily Shallom, of APOPO, puts his success down to the fact that he is ‘hardworking but also friendly and relaxed’.
The prolific rodent has been named the most successful Mine Detection Rat (MDR) in the organisation’s history
Ronin has tracked down 109 landmines and 15 other potentially deadly war remnants since his deployment to northern Preah Vihear province in Cambodia in August 2021
Lily Shallom, of APOPO, puts his success down to the fact that he is ‘hardworking but also friendly and relaxed’
Magawa, the previous record holder, found 71 landmines and 38 UXOs during his five-year service
Magawa passed away in 2022, shortly after being awarded a gold medal for heroism for clearing mines
She added: ‘Ronin’s success likely comes from his sharp focus, strong work ethic and love of problem-solving.
‘His intelligence and natural curiosity help him stay engaged. Finding landmines is like a fun game to him and no two days are the same.’
His main handler Phanny added: ‘Ronin’s achievements are a testament to the incredible potential of rats. He’s not just an asset; he’s a valued partner and colleague.’
The record breaking feat was announced today on April 4, which is both World Rat Day and International Day for Landmine Awareness.
But Ronin won’t be spending much time celebrating, APOPO revealed.
Shallom added: ‘Ronin will be hard at work in the morning, helping to find as many landmines and other hidden dangers as he can.
‘When he returns to base, he’ll be celebrating with a special “Full Cheek Friday” feast – a well-earned reward for his dedication and service.’
Ronin and Magawa were two of hundreds of rodents trained up by APOPO at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania.
Ronin’s main handler Phanny said: ‘Ronin’s achievements are a testament to the incredible potential of rats. He’s not just an asset; he’s a valued partner and colleague
Ronin could have at least two more years of detection work ahead of him
They are then deployed to various regions around the world, assisted by specialist handlers.
Their small bodies mean they are too light to trigger explosives, while their intelligence and powerful sense of smell allow them to operate effectively in the field.
There has never a casualty among their rats while on the job, APOPO said.
Cambodia remains littered with mines, discarded ammunition and other arms from decades of war.
Despite the civil war ending in 1998, deaths from mines and unexploded ordnance are still common.
Two Cambodian toddlers were killed in February when a rocket-propelled grenade believed buried since the country’s civil war blew up near their homes in northwestern Siem Reap province.
Cambodia had aimed to be mine-free by 2025, but the government pushed the deadline back by five years because of funding challenges and new landmine fields found along the Thai border.
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