Meet the record rat with a nose to sniff the explosives in wartime

It is fair to say that the rats were not very strongly in the lists of beloved animals of most people … But perhaps today in World Rat Day (April 4), a record rat could make you reassess your opinions.

For more than 25 years, the Belgian non -profit apopo has been on a mission to rehabilitate the reputation for a long time of these rodents while helping citizens of countries delighted by conflicts. Their secret? Return the story of the burned vermin to superhero assistance animals.

Apopo has launched a program where they teach African giant rats (CICISTOMYS Ansorgei) to sniff chemicals in abandoned mines and other weapons that are left behind war periods. This was in close collaboration with the University of Agriculture of Sokoine in Tanzania, where all the rats were born and raised. Currently, there are 104 active recruits on rodents, or as Apopo likes to call them, Herorats.

These experts in the detection of four -legged bombs are deployed in various regions of the world, where – helped by specialized managers – they have started to put their training in practice, to discover devices that can be fatal or to cause injuries that change their life if they are involuntary by a passerby.

This crucial work makes a tangible difference for people who have been unleashed for decades by the fear that a misstep while going to their lives of their daily life could be their last.

The small bodies of poached rats (they are too light to trigger buried explosives), an acute intelligence and a wise of the powerful smell make them perfectly adapted to this work. As dangerous as for humans, the organization wishes to emphasize that they have never had a victim among their rats during their work.

Proving their versatility, some of the herorats have also branched out to be able to use their super olfactory capacity to detect tuberculosis in a medical environment. They help increase both the speed and precision of the diagnosis of this highly infectious disease – which are both essential to try to prevent an epidemic, especially in the fields where resources are limited due to war or poverty.

Since Apopo was founded in 1997 by Bart Weetjens, the project eliminated 169,713 terrestrial mines and other explosives from regions impacted by the war of Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia. This feat is the cumulative achievement of a multi-species of de-lead army which includes rats, dogs and humans.

A particularly industrial rodent worker who deserves to be highlighted on the day of the world is called Ronin. Between August 2021 and February 2025, he alone discovered 109 terrestrial mines – as well as 15 other UXO pieces (unploded ammunition) – all in the Siem Reap region in Cambodia. This means that Ronin now claims the title of Most terrestrial mines detected by a rat.

The previous holder was another of the Herorates of Apopo – Magawa – who retired in May 2021 with a count of 71 mines (plus 38 UXOS) discovered over almost five years. He even received a bravery medal by the animal charitable organization PDSA for its service, but unfortunately died of old age in January 2022.

Ronin, who is currently five years old, is described as “a worker but also friendly and relaxed”. As to know why they think that he has so particularly excelled in his work, Apopo’s Lily Shallome said: “Ronin’s success probably comes from his lively objective, his strong work ethics and the love of problem solving.

“His intelligence and natural curiosity help him to remain engaged. Finding terrestrial mines is like a fun game for him and the same days ago.”

However, it is not a question of day work, and well-being and the provision of well-balanced care and enrichments for rats while rest is as essential as it is to take care of them at work. In his downtime with the local managers with whom he lives in Cambodia, Ronin likes “to find out how to go to a hidden treat or sail in an obstacle course in his playground”.

Ronin’s main manager, Phanny, told GWR: “Ronin’s achievements testify to the incredible potential of rats. It is not only an asset; He is a precious partner and colleague. ”