Ronin the Rat Breaks World Record for Landmine Detection

Ronin's achievements bring hope to communities affected by landmines in Cambodia, showcasing the effectiveness of trained animals in demining efforts.

In an extraordinary feat, Ronin, an African giant pouched rat, has become the first rodent to reveal over 100 landmines and other hazardous remnants of war, setting a new world record in the process. The five-year-old rat, trained by the non-profit organization Apopo, has located a total of 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnance items since he began his work in 2021, according to a recent statement from the charity.

Cambodia's landscape still holds millions of unexploded munitions from a lengthy civil war that concluded in 1998, leaving communities living under the constant threat of landmines. The Guinness World Records has acknowledged Ronin's "essential work" as significantly impacting the lives of those who face the daily fear of encountering such dangers.

Apopo, which operates out of Tanzania, has more than 100 HeroRATS, a term the organization uses for their specially trained rodents. These rats are adept at detecting chemicals specific to landmines, while their lightweight bodies ensure they do not trigger any explosions. Remarkably, a rat can thoroughly inspect an area the size of a tennis court in approximately 30 minutes, while it may take a human with a metal detector up to four days to accomplish the same task.

In addition to their landmine detection capabilities, these trained rodents are also proficient at identifying tuberculosis, a disease that disproportionately affects the lungs. This detection is notably faster than conventional laboratory methods using microscopy.

With his groundbreaking contributions, Ronin has surpassed the previous record held by Magawa, another landmine-detecting rat who uncovered 71 mines and was recognized with a gold medal in 2020. Over the past 25 years, Apopo has successfully cleared 169,713 landmines and other explosives globally, contributing significantly to safety in Cambodia, where more than 52,000 mines have been removed. The organization also extends its efforts to other war-affected regions, including Ukraine, South Sudan, and Azerbaijan.

Despite these achievements, there remain an estimated four to six million landmines and unexploded ordnance buried across Cambodia, according to the Landmine Monitor. The ongoing work by organizations like Apopo is crucial in continuing to make these regions safer for their inhabitants.