Giant rat wins world record for sniffing out landmines in Cambodia

A rat named Ronin broke the Guinness record of the most anti-personnel mines found so that they could be disarmed.

Record-setting rat recognized for sniffing out landmines

A rat has sniffed his way into the record books — and saved lives in the process. Ronin the African giant pouched rat set a new world record for the most landmines detected by a rat. Guinness World Records gave the distinction to Ronin on World Rat Day, which fell on Friday. Between August 2021 and February 2025, Ronin uncovered 109 landmines and 15 additional pieces of UXO (unexploded ordnance) in the Siem Reap region of Cambodia as part of the…

A specially trained giant rat named Ronin has set a new record in Cambodia, becoming the first rodent to find more than a hundred unexploded mines and other deadly war remnants.

Rat Breaks Guinness World Record for Sniffing Out Land Mines

Rats often get a bad rap, but Ronin, an African giant pouched rat is rewriting the narrative by setting a new world record for detecting land mines and saving lives along the way. Ronin broke the record for the most land mines detected by a rat, uncovering 109 land mines and 15 other pieces of unexploded ordnance in a region close to Siem Reap in Cambodia between August 2021 and February 2025, according to Guinness World Records. “Ronin’s achiev…

Rats and mice don't always have the best reputation, but one named Ronin with a super sense of smell is working to change that.

Meet the record-setting rodent sniffing out landmines and saving lives

A rat who is now in the Guinness Book of Records is doing his best to rehabilitate his maligned species.