Rats' Role in Clearing Cambodia's Landmines

Siem Reap, Cambodia, July 16 (AP) – In Cambodia, rats are not just seen as vermin but as valuable allies in the urgent task of landmine detection. Across the country, teams of African giant pouched rats have become essential in locating land mines, a deadly legacy of past conflicts that have devastated thousands of lives in this Southeast Asian nation.

These sizable rodents, which can grow up to 45 cm in length and weigh as much as 1.5 kg, are diligently deployed in fields. They skillfully maneuver through the terrain, alerting their handlers when they detect the scent of TNT, a primary component of most land mines and explosives.

“While working with these rats, I have always found mines and they have never skipped a single one,” shared Mott Sreymom, a dedicated rat handler with APOPO. This humanitarian demining organization specializes in training these specially skilled rodents and deploying their detection teams globally. “I really trust these mine detection rats,” Mott emphasized during a break in her work on a landmine-infested field in Cambodia's Siem Reap province.

Following decades of conflict last century, dangerous remnants of war were left scattered over an estimated 4,500 square kilometers of Cambodian land, impacting all 25 of the country's provinces and nearly half of its 14,000 villages, as per a 2004 survey by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA). By 2018, reports indicated that 1,970 square kilometers were still awaiting clearance.

The African giant pouched rats are lauded for their exceptional olfactory abilities, which make them highly effective for APOPO's operations. The organization also utilizes specially trained dogs for mine detection. “Dogs and rats have the advantage of being trainable,” explained Alberto Zacarias, a field supervisor for APOPO's survey dog teams. He noted their amiable nature and ability to quickly learn and follow commands.

Demining efforts in Cambodia officially commenced in 1992. Since then, over 1.1 million landmines and approximately 2.9 million pieces of other explosive ordnance have been successfully removed, according to a 2022 progress report from the Cambodian government.

In this ongoing battle against unexploded remnants of war, the African giant pouched rats play a crucial role. “We work with them almost daily, developing a close bond,” Mott said. “They are very friendly, unafraid, and stable. They feel like part of the family.” (AP)

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