Overview

• African giant pouched rats are deployed daily to sniff out TNT with handlers reporting zero missed mines in Siem Reap and Preah Vihear.
• These rodents grow up to 45 cm long and weigh up to 1.5 kg, allowing them to navigate fields nimbly and signal hidden explosives.
• APOPO combines rat teams with canine units and heavy machinery to methodically clear decades-old mine contamination.
• Since 1992, more than 1.1 million mines and 2.9 million explosive remnants of war have been cleared in Cambodia.
• Cambodia’s goal to be mine-free by 2030 relies on innovative techniques like rodent detection amid funding challenges and new site discoveries.