Ronin the rat breaks world record in Cambodia by detecting more than 100 landmines
The giant pouched rat has been named by the Belgian charity as its most successful Mine Detection Rat (MDR) for uncovering 109 landmines and 15 items of unexploded ordnance since 2021, Apopo said in a statement.
Ronin the rat has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records which said that the rodent's "crucial work" is making a real difference to people who have had to live with the "fear that one misstep while going about their day-to-day lives could be their last'.
'And Ronin's work is far from finished. At just five years old, he may have two years or more of detection work ahead of him, continuing to build on his already record-breaking total,' the statement by Apopo said.
Ronin was deployed to Preah Vihear province in Cambodia in August 2021, Apopo said.
Meet #Ronin, APOPO's record-breaking rat. He holds a Guinness World Record title for the most landmines detected by a rat. Support Ronin's mission.Adopt a HeroRAT: https://t.co/Ch9LjXwaq7#MineAwarenessDay #WorldRatDay #SavingLives #GuinnessWorldRecord #APOPO pic.twitter.com/B1UBcolt2J
— APOPO (@herorats) April 4, 2025
The rodent has broken the previous record held by the African giant pouched rat Magawa who detected 71 landmines and 38 pieces of unexploded ordnance over the course of five years.
The Tanzania-based Apopo non-profit has 104 rodent recruits which it calls HeroRATS.
Its page of Ronin says that the avocado-loving rat is 68cm in length, weighs 1,175gm, and his personality is 'hardworking, but friendly and relaxed'.
Scarred by decades of civil war, Cambodia is one of the world's most heavily landmined countries, with more than 1,000sqkm (621 sq miles) of land still contaminated.
It has among the highest number of amputees per capita, with more than 40,000 people losing limbs to explosives.
Apopo says its HeroRATs can search an area the size of a tennis court in 30 minutes. The same task would take a deminer with a metal detector up to four days depending on how much scrap metal was lying around.
It says that the trained rats can detect the chemical compound within explosives called TNT, and they ignore scrap metal, unlike traditional methods with a metal detector.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Zoo makes unique request: Donate your pets to feed our predators
A Denmark zoo is requesting donations of healthy horses and other small pets to feed their captive predatory animals. The Aalborg Zoo said it accepts live horses, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs to give to carnivorous animals in its care, calling them an important part of their predators' diets. The zoo, located in Denmark's North Jutland region, argued it has a responsibility to mimic the natural food chain among animals. Donated animals are "gently euthanized" by its staff before being served as fodder. The zoo discussed the feeding donation program in a Facebook post on July 31, garnering dozens of reactions, including many who pushed back on the initiative. Animals: Zoo camera captures rare moment endangered 'African unicorn' calf takes his first steps Zoo shares rules for animal donations The zoo accepts guinea pigs, chickens, and rabbits on weekdays. Donors are allowed to give four at a time. On its website, the Aalborg Zoo explained that there are specific requirements for those who want to donate horses: Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
Chicago Tribune
11 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Fest at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Aurora offers taste of Africa
Kathleen Dewig of Batavia elected to be a little more adventurous with her lunch this past weekend and elected to try some authentic Nigerian food. 'I've never had this type of cuisine before,' Dewig sat as she sat in an open room with tables Sunday afternoon inside St. Joseph Catholic Church in Aurora. 'It's very spicy, and I like the spicy chicken and the rice.' A trip through Nigerian and other African cuisines, as well as food from other areas of the world, was offered Sunday at St. Joseph Catholic Church as the non-profit Sycamore-based ImaBridge Africa International group offered a two-hour International Taste Festival beginning at 12:30 p.m. Following a Mass at 11 a.m., the church featured cultural performances, an African cooking contest, kids' games and a plethora of food as the non-profit group hoped to raise money through food tickets and donations for the underprivileged in Nigeria. This year's effort focused on helping a hospital in Nigeria, organizers said. Ndifrekeabasi Ecim of Nigeria was on hand Sunday and said she was the administrator for the ImaBridge Africa-owned hospital back home. 'This is going to go a long way to help the vulnerable people – the women who cannot have their children elsewhere – this will help them procure all the help they need for the babies and themselves,' Ecim said of Sunday's fundraiser. The Rev. Godwin Asuquo, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Aurora and also founder of ImaBridge Africa, said the event used to be held in McHenry and was moved here to Aurora last year, following his being assigned to the Aurora church, adding that he was 'wanting to create more awareness.' 'People in McHenry are familiar with this and we wanted to spread the word to another area,' Asuquo said a few days before the event. 'This is the ninth year we have held the fundraiser and the second time we have had it in Aurora. I was transferred from McHenry to Aurora so some of this was for convenience but also to expand awareness. People from McHenry still come here and we are bringing more people.' Cecelia Adams, director of public relations for ImaBridge Africa, said the goal of this year's event was to make it even more multicultural. 'We have foods from different places in Africa but also tamales and other groups. We moved to Aurora to expand ourselves both in ethnicity and also to get the word out for others to help those in need across the globe,' she said. The event focuses on authentic cuisine, Asuquo said. 'We have people of Nigerian or African descent that have flown in and are here with us already – close to 10 people that have arrived from Nigeria who are cooking the food from scratch,' he said before the event. 'We also have people from different ethnicities and we want to make this more of an international festival where we get to learn about different peoples' cultures.' Officials said the event would raise as much as $30,000 when it was held in McHenry and that ImaBridge Africa is also seeking grants. 'Our goal is to raise $30,000 this year. We didn't make that much last year but we think it was because we switched (locations),' Adams said. 'I've personally been to Nigeria about 12 times and it's the culture and the food that keeps me coming back.' Gail Wright of Aurora came with her husband Tom and grandson Gabe and said she used to teach in the area. 'We wanted to support ImaBridge Africa and also see Father Godwin who we know,' she said. 'I know there is African food and we're absolutely excited about that and trying it. I only know what Father Godwin told us about the food but we missed it last year.'
Business Insider
16 hours ago
- Business Insider
World's 4th deadliest migration route strikes again, killing 68 illegal migrants from Africa
At least 68 African migrants have died and 74 others remain missing after an overcrowded boat carrying illegal migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen, highlighting the extreme dangers of the Eastern Route, a perilous migration corridor connecting the Horn of Africa to the Gulf that is ranked as the fourth deadliest in the world. At least 68 African migrants have died and 74 others remain missing following a boat capsizing off Yemen's coast. The vessel, departing from Somalia with 154 Ethiopian migrants, was en route to the Gulf when it overturned. This tragedy highlights the risks of irregular migration routes driven by poverty, conflict, and limited opportunities. Despite more than 2,100 recorded deaths and disappearances along this fourth deadliest route globally, migrants continue to brave the journey, driven by poverty, conflict, and the hope of finding economic opportunity in Saudi Arabia and beyond. The overcrowded vessel, which had departed from Somalia with 154 Ethiopian migrants on board, was en route to one of the Gulf countries when it overturned near Yemen's Abyan province on Sunday. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) confirmed that only 12 migrants survived the tragedy, while the bodies of 54 victims were recovered along the Khanfar coastline. Another 14 bodies were found at a different location and transported to a local morgue. Search efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining missing passengers. World's deadliest migration route Despite being ranked as the fourth deadliest migration corridor globally, the Eastern Route connecting the Horn of Africa to Yemen and onward to Gulf nations continues to lure thousands of desperate migrants each year. According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 2,116 deaths and disappearances have been recorded along this route between 2014 and September 2024. The Eastern Route trails behind the Mediterranean (30,354 deaths/missing), the Sahara Desert (6,316), and the Atlantic route to Spain's Canary Islands (4,828), yet it remains a critical and perilous passageway for migrants seeking better economic opportunities in the Gulf. Deadly migration routes fail to deter illegal migrants According to the IOM, more than 30,000 people have died or gone missing between 2014 and September 2024 along the Western, Central, and Eastern Mediterranean migration routes. Despite these alarming numbers, Africa's illegal migration corridors, especially the Eastern Route through Yemen to the Gulf, remain active, with a steady flow of desperate migrants risking their lives in search of better opportunities. Driven by poverty, conflict, and limited prospects at home, thousands continue to embark on perilous sea crossings aboard overcrowded boats, hoping to reach Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations. Economic hardship, fraudulent recruitment schemes, and the lure of quick escape push many towards these treacherous paths, often controlled by human traffickers who exploit migrants' vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, these journeys frequently end in tragedy, with fatalities and missing persons reported with disturbing regularity. The latest deadly shipwreck off Yemen's coast further reveals the growing dangers associated with irregular migration through the Eastern Route. Migration experts caution that as long as root causes such as poverty, insecurity, and lack of economic opportunities persist, many will continue to take life-threatening risks.
