Ronin the Rat Sets Guinness World Record for Mine Detection in Cambodia

The HeroRAT has discovered 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnances since 2021, underscoring the critical role of innovative animal training in humanitarian mine clearance.

• Ronin, a mine-detecting rat trained by Apopo, has been recognized by Guinness World Records for detecting the most landmines by a rat, with 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnances discovered since 2021.
• The announcement coincides with International Rat Day, highlighting the life-saving contributions of HeroRATs in heavily mined regions like Cambodia.
• Ronin's achievements surpass those of his predecessor, Magawa, and emphasize the effectiveness of Apopo's reward-based training methods developed in Tanzania.
• Cambodia remains one of the world's most heavily mined countries, with many explosives dating back to the Khmer Rouge regime starting in 1975.
• Guinness World Records and Apopo stress the importance of overcoming biases against unconventional methods, showcasing how human-animal collaboration can address global humanitarian challenges.

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