On World Rat Day, one remarkable rodent is challenging public perception by setting a new Guinness World Records title for sniffing out wartime explosives. Ronin, a five-year-old African giant pouched rat, has become the first of his kind to detect more than 100 landmines and other unexploded ordnance in a career dedicated to saving lives.
Trained by the Belgian non-profit organization APOPO, Ronin’s achievement was officially announced to coincide with World Rat Day on April 4. Since his deployment to Cambodia in August 2021, Ronin has located a staggering 109 landmines and an additional 15 unexploded ordnance items. This feat surpasses the previous record holder, a beloved rat named Magawa, who retired in 2021 and passed away in 2022.
Known for his hardworking yet relaxed demeanor, Ronin is part of a team of “HeroRATS” that APOPO trains to use their exceptional sense of smell to locate TNT in buried explosives. Their light weight, a mere 1.3 kilograms (2.8 lbs), prevents them from detonating the landmines as they work. A single rat can clear an area the size of a tennis court in just 30 minutes—a task that would take a human with a metal detector up to four days.
“Ronin’s achievements are a testament to the incredible potential of positive reinforcement training,” said his handler, Phanny. “He’s not just an asset; he’s a valued partner and colleague.”
Cambodia remains one of the most heavily landmined countries in the world, with millions of undetonated explosives still lurking beneath the soil, a legacy of decades of civil war. Ronin’s vital work is helping to make land safe for local communities, allowing them to live, farm, and work without the constant fear of a tragic misstep. His story is a powerful reminder that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, even with whiskers.
