Despite the bad reputation that rats usually have, Ronin – a giant African rat with an extraordinary sense of smell – is changing perceptions about his species. The rat trained by the Belgian organization APOPO has set a new world record for the most landmines detected by a rat, writes A2 CNN.
Between August 2021 and February 2025, Ronin discovered 109 landmines and 15 other unexploded ordnance in Cambodia, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
"Ronin's achievements are a testament to the rats' incredible potential," said his head coach, Phanny.
Landmines are a major threat in areas that have experienced conflict. They are hidden underground and can cause death or serious injury to civilians – especially children. In Cambodia alone, over 65,000 people have been killed or injured by mines since 1979.
Rats like Ronin are ideal for this mission, as they are smart, fast and quite agile, finding mines without activating them. They are trained to sniff out the chemical components of explosives and report their location to their trainers.
Ronin, born in Tanzania and standing over 60cm tall, is larger than a typical mouse and weighs around 1.2kg. He is part of a team of over 100 mice trained by APOPO, which can control a field the size of a tennis court in 30 minutes – a task that would take a human four days to complete.
Ronin takes over from Magawa, another legendary rat who discovered 71 mines and 38 other tools before passing away in 2022. These rats are proof that even the smallest animals can do great things. (A2 Televizion)
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