Ronin the Rat Breaks World Record in Landmine Detection
Ronin, an African giant pouched rat trained by the Belgian nonprofit APOPO, has broken a Guinness World Record by detecting 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnance in Cambodia since 2021. He beat the previous record set by Magawa, another famous HeroRAT.
Born in Tanzania, Saving Lives in Cambodia
Ronin was born on August 13, 2019, in Morogoro, Tanzania. APOPO trained him at their facility and then deployed him to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Weighing only 1,175 grams, Ronin can move across minefields without setting off any explosives. Each morning, he works for about 12 minutes, sniffing out TNT in buried landmines.
Clearing the Path to Safety
Ronin’s exceptional work has cleared nearly 194,000 square meters of hazardous land. His efforts have made these areas much safer for local families in Cambodia, a country still struggling with the legacy of millions of landmines from past wars.
Following in Magawa’s Footsteps
Magawa, Ronin’s legendary predecessor, sniffed out more than 100 landmines over his five-year career. The UK’s PDSA charity awarded Magawa the Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor for animal bravery.
The HeroRAT Program: Saving Lives, One Sniff at a Time
APOPO’s HeroRATs continue to revolutionize mine detection. These highly trained rats offer a fast, accurate, and cost-effective solution to clear landmines and save lives—proving that even the smallest creatures can be heroes.
