Meet Ronin: The Record-Breaking Rat Saving Lives One Landmine at a Time

Meet Ronin, the heroic rat who has just made history by detecting over 100 landmines and saving countless lives. Trained by APOPO, a Belgian nonprofit, Ronin now holds the Guinness World Record for the most explosives detected by a rat.

At just two feet long and weighing over two pounds, Ronin may seem small, but his impact is enormous. Born in Tanzania and deployed in Cambodia’s dangerous Preah Vihear province, Ronin’s sharp sense of smell and agility make him faster and more effective than traditional demining methods.

In a world where landmines still pose a serious threat, Ronin’s work is nothing short of lifesaving. In Cambodia alone, over 65,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines since 1979, and millions of unexploded mines remain hidden across the country.

Ronin’s achievement follows in the footsteps of another famous rat, Magawa, who identified 71 landmines and 38 unexploded ordnance during his career. While Magawa has since passed away, his legacy lives on through Ronin and other rats trained for this crucial work.

With over 100 rats trained by APOPO to detect landmines and even tuberculosis, these animals are proving to be invaluable allies in the fight against hidden dangers. Ronin may be small, but his bravery and dedication make him a true hero in every sense of the word.