© 2025 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Protect my public media

Ronin the rat has found a record number of land mines

Ronin on minefield next to danger sign. (Courtesy of APOPO)
/
Ronin on minefield next to danger sign. (Courtesy of APOPO)

A rat named Ronin has earned a Guinness World Record for finding the most landmines, lifesaving work he’s performed in Cambodia. He’s an African giant pouched rat who’s been trained and works with the nonprofit organization APOPO.

Here & Now‘s Scott Tong speaks with Cindy Fast, head of training and innovation at APOPO, about how rats like Ronin are trained to sniff out landmines, other unexploded ordnance and even tuberculosis.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2025 WBUR

Here & Now Newsroom

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.