Rats can be dangerous not only at home but also in the fields, they can win wars and defeat powerful enemies with pure field skills. Cambodia’s mine mice have found more than 100 mines and many other war-related things from underground, thus achieving a world record.
Meet the mice that sniff landmines and create a unique world record in… (Image provided by: @gwr)
Rats can be dangerous not only at home but also in the fields, they can win wars and defeat powerful enemies with pure field skills. Cambodia’s mine mice have found more than 100 mines and many other war-related things from underground, thus achieving a world record.
African rats that won the world record
Ronin is a rat, from Cambodia, and is only 5 years old. According to the nonprofit Apopo, he found at least 109 mines and 15 unexploded ordnance items. The people who work with him refer to the large African rodents as “hardworking, friendly and relaxing.” “This means that Ronin now claims to be the title of most mines detected by rats,” the Guinness of World Records said after Ronin scored a world record. It called the achievements of African rats its “critical work”, which made a real difference in the safety of Cambodians.
Luo Ning “works hard” on the mouse
Its successful attribute is characterized by a keen concentration, a strong professional ethics and a love for problem solving. Compared to conventional rodents, Ronin is also very smart and has a natural curiosity that will encourage him. According to his handler, “Ronin’s achievements prove the incredible potential of the rat. He is not only an asset; he is a noble companion and colleague.”
Cambodia has seen decades of civil war and was not until 1998 that it became the most mined country in the world. Its 1,000 square kilometers of land is still covered with mines. The country is one of the highest rates of amputees, with more than 40,000 people suffering physical damage due to explosive devices.
Apopo, the nonprofit organization, has been involved in training mice for nearly 30 years. Just like humans, their training is difficult because they are trained in a systematic grid pattern and have to scratch the ground to find mines. These rats have 30 minutes of normal work and even retire after a certain period of time. Magawa is a former record holder, discovering 71 mines and 38 unexploded ordnance in five years. He retired in 2021.
