For over three years, a giant African pouched rat named “Ronin” has been detecting 109 landmines and 15 unexploded bombs in Cambodia, setting a new Guinness World Record.
The Belgian non-governmental organization APOPO stated in a press release that “Ronin” is an African Giant Pouched Rat trained by the organization to assist in landmine detection. He has become the most successful mine-detecting rat in the history of APOPO and is now the new world record holder.
Deployed in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, since August 2021, “Ronin” has discovered 109 landmines and 15 unexploded bombs, surpassing the previous record held by another mine-detecting rat named “Magawa” who found 71 landmines and 38 unexploded bombs.
At five years old, “Ronin” continues his mission with the potential to sniff out landmines for another two years, further breaking the record set by a rat.
Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Adam Millward mentioned that achievements in the Guinness World Records do not always signify breaking milestones but can also challenge preconceived notions.
APOPO highlighted the collaboration between their mine-detecting rats and the trainers and caregivers, emphasizing how their achievements change lives, serving as an inspirational example of the positive outcomes that can be achieved through human-animal cooperation.
“Ronin” was born at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania and began mine-detecting training at a young age, including learning to recognize the scent of explosives in mined areas.
According to APOPO, the mine-detecting rats only work for 30 minutes a day, usually in the cooler mornings, allowing them time to rest, play, and engage in natural behaviors. Their work is seen as enriching, stimulating their thinking and olfaction.
During leisure time with Cambodian caretakers, “Ronin” enjoys searching for hidden food or navigating obstacle courses at a play area.
Phanny, one of “Ronin’s” main caretakers, expressed that his achievements showcase the remarkable potential of rats beyond being assets but also as trustworthy companions and colleagues.
Since 1997, APOPO has been training African Giant Pouched Rats to assist in demining. These rats, lightweight with a keen sense of smell and motivated by food rewards, prove highly efficient in detecting landmines. Trained rats can search 200 square meters in 20 minutes, equivalent to 25 hours of continuous work for deminers with detectors.
General landmines require over 5 kilograms of pressure to detonate, whereas the African Giant Pouched Rats, weighing less than 1.5 kilograms, pose no risk of setting off the mines. To date, no APOPO-trained rats have perished while detecting landmines.
Trained from four weeks old, African Giant Pouched Rats can detect TNT in landmines after several months of training. Correct detections are rewarded with treats like bananas.
APOPO reported that over 1.1 billion landmines still lie buried in more than 60 countries worldwide, posing a daily threat to civilians. In 2023 alone, landmines and unexploded ordnance caused 5,241 casualties, including 1,431 deaths.
Most victims are civilians, with children representing approximately half of the casualties. Despite ongoing demining efforts, these lethal devices continue to claim lives and limbs each year.