Ronin the Rat: A Guinness World Record Hero Saving Lives in Cambodia
A giant African pouched rat named Ronin has achieved global recognition, earning a Guinness World Record for his extraordinary work detecting landmines in Cambodia. This remarkable rodent is a true hero, sniffing out danger and paving the way for safer communities.
The award was announced by APOPO, a non-governmental organization that trains and employs over 100 rats for this vital demining work in the Southeast Asian nation. These “HeroRATs,” as they’re affectionately known, are revolutionizing landmine detection.
“Ronin’s outstanding achievement in locating over 124 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnances is a testament to the incredible potential of our HeroRATs and their life-saving work,” stated APOPO. Since its founding in 1997, the organization has helped remove nearly 170,000 landmines across several countries, making a tangible difference in countless lives.
Apopo highlights that this achievement showcases “the abilities of these often negatively viewed animals”, while also “emphasizing the crucial role of innovation in humanitarian demining.”
Since 2021, Ronin has been diligently working in the Preah Vihear province, surpassing the impressive legacy of Magawa, a retired HeroRAT who identified 71 landmines and 38 unexploded objects during her five years of service before passing away in 2022. Ronin is not only continuing Magawa’s legacy but setting a new standard.
“Ronin’s work is far from over,” APOPO emphasizes. “He could have two or more years of detection work ahead of him, continuing to build on his record.” This Belgian-based organization remains committed to deploying these incredible animals to protect communities from the devastating threat of landmines.
These specially trained rats are adept at detecting the chemical compounds in explosives while ignoring harmless scrap metal, significantly speeding up the process of finding and removing deadly devices. Despite their size, their light weight ensures they won’t trigger the mines.
Cambodia remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, a tragic legacy of decades of conflict between 1975 and 1998. Experts estimate that up to six million mines were laid, with hundreds of thousands still unaccounted for.
These hidden dangers have resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, leaving Cambodia with the highest number of amputees per capita due to landmines – over 40,000 individuals in a population of 17 million. Ronin and his fellow HeroRATs are crucial to clearing these deadly remnants and building a safer future for Cambodia.
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