A giant African pouched rat named Ronin has broken the world record for landmine detection, uncovering 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnances in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, according to Belgian charity APOPO.
Since his deployment in August 2021, the five-year-old rodent has become APOPO’s most successful Mine Detection Rat (MDR), surpassing the previous record set by Magawa, who detected 71 landmines during his service.
Ronin’s remarkable achievement has earned him a Guinness World Records title, underscoring the critical role of trained rats—nicknamed “HeroRats”—in humanitarian demining efforts.
Cambodia remains one of the world’s most heavily mined countries, with decades of conflict leaving behind dangerous explosives. The country had targeted becoming mine-free by 2025 but recently extended the deadline due to funding constraints and newly discovered minefields.
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