Ronin the Rat Shatters Landmine Detection Records in Cambodia

Tue Sep 23 2025 12:34:25 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The extraordinary achievements of Ronin, a landmine-detecting rat, mark a significant milestone in humanitarian demining efforts in Cambodia.

Ronin, an African giant pouched rat, has set a new world record by detecting over 100 landmines and munitions, significantly aiding demining efforts in Cambodia, where millions of landmines remain buried.

In a remarkable achievement, Ronin, an African giant pouched rat trained by the charity Apopo, has become the first rodent to surpass the milestone of uncovering 100 landmines and other hazardous remnants of war. Since 2021, Ronin has identified a total of 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnance pieces in Cambodia, a nation still scarred by the remnants of its prolonged civil war, which concluded in 1998.

Apopo announced Ronin's achievement in a recent statement, highlighting his pivotal role in assisting Cambodians to reclaim land that has been perilous for years due to the landmines buried beneath. The Guinness World Records commended Ronin's "crucial work," emphasizing the life-altering impact on communities that have continuously lived under the dread of potential landmine detonations.

The organization, which is headquartered in Tanzania, has a network of 104 HeroRATS trained to detect chemicals in landmines and munitions. Due to their light weight, these rodents are not heavy enough to trigger any mines, allowing them to safely survey areas for hidden dangers. Remarkably, a rat can clear a space the size of a tennis court in just 30 minutes, a feat that would take a human with a metal detector about four days.

In addition to their demining contributions, the rats are also utilized to detect tuberculosis, providing a faster inspection method compared to traditional laboratory techniques.

Ronin's groundbreaking achievements have eclipsed the previous record held by Magawa, another HeroRAT who was recognized for unearthing 71 landmines and was awarded a gold medal in 2020. Since Apopo's inception 25 years ago, the organization has successfully cleared 169,713 landmines and various explosives worldwide, with over 52,000 located within Cambodia.

Despite these efforts, an estimated four to six million landmines remain buried across the country, according to the Landmine Monitor. With continued work in Cambodia and other war-impacted areas such as Ukraine, South Sudan, and Azerbaijan, Apopo remains committed to making the world a safer place.