Ronin the rat sets Guinness World Record for landmine detection in Cambodia

Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)

A rat trained to find landmines in Cambodia has set a new world record. The rodent discovered over 100 landmines and unexploded objects, according to a charity report from last month.

Ronin is a large African pouched rat. Since being deployed to northern Preah Vihear province in August 2021, he has found 109 landmines and 15 other dangerous remnants of war, according to the Belgian charity APOPO.

Five-year-old Ronin has been named the most successful Mine Detection Rat (MDR) in the organisation’s history.

“His exceptional accomplishments have earned him the Guinness World Records title for most landmines detected by a rat, highlighting the critical role of HeroRats in humanitarian demining,” APOPO said.

Ronin beat the previous record, held by hero rodent Magawa. Magawa found 71 landmines and 38 unexploded ordnances during his five-year service before retirement in 2021.

Magawa, a hero recognised with a gold medal, cleared landmines from approximately 225,000 square meters of land, which is about the size of 42 football pitches. He passed away in 2022.

Cambodia is littered with mines, discarded ammunition and other arms from decades of war starting in the 1960s.

After more than 30 years of civil war ended in 1998, Cambodia was left as one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.

Deaths from mines and unexploded ordnance are still common, with around 20,000 fatalities since 1979, and twice that number wounded.

Agence France-Presse

Questions

• Why is it important to find landmines, even from many years ago?

• Why are rats better than humans at finding landmines?