African giant rat sets world record for sniffing landmines in Cambodia

A landmine-clearing rat pouched from Tanzania has set a new world record for most mines detected by a rat, the Guinness World Records (GWR) said. 

Ronin, a giant African rat, uncovered 109 landmines and other potentially deadly war remnants since his deployment to northern Cambodia in Preah Vihear province. 

The rat is part of 104 active rodent recruits trained by the Belgian charity Apopo to sniff out abandoned mines and other weapons that get left behind after war. 

The previous record was held by another of Apopo's rats - by the name of Magawa - who retired May 2021 with a tally of 71 mines discovered over nearly five years. He died of old age in January 2022.

‘Hardworking and friendly’

Ronin, who is currently five years old, is described as being “hardworking but also friendly and relaxed”.