In the quiet outskirts of Siem Reap, far from the bustle of ancient temples and tourist trails, a team of unexpected heroes is hard at work—sniffing out deadly remnants of Cambodia’s war-torn past. At the APOPO HeroRAT Center, African giant pouched rats are helping reclaim land long haunted by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Cambodia remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. The legacy of decades of conflict—including the Khmer Rouge regime, civil wars of the 1970s, and U.S. aerial bombardment during the Vietnam War—left the countryside littered with millions of landmines and deadly explosives. The danger remains real today, particularly for rural communities and children.
Founded in 1997 by Belgian engineer and social entrepreneur Bart Weetjens, APOPO (short for Anti-Personnel Landmines Removal Product Development) sought an innovative and affordable way to address this deadly problem. Weetjens, who once kept pet rats, believed their intelligence and extraordinary sense of smell could be harnessed for humanitarian purposes. He was right.
After years of research and testing, APOPO successfully trained African giant pouched rats—affectionately known as HeroRATS—to detect tiny traces of TNT. These rats are a tremendous asset in mine detection, capable of smelling as little as one trillionth of a gram of TNT buried up to a meter deep. Unlike metal detectors, HeroRATS are not triggered by harmless scrap metal, making their work faster and more precise. Their efficiency is remarkable: just one rat can search up to 200 square meters in a mere 20 minutes—an area that would take a human with a metal detector days to cover.
The HeroRATS are too light to set off mines, making them a safe and ideal tool for detection. They work in the mornings when the ground is cooler and are rewarded with bananas or peanuts when they locate a mine. They are not only effective, but also endearing—to visitors and deminers alike.
Since the launch of its Cambodia program in 2015, APOPO has made a profound impact. The organization has returned over 13.7 million square meters of safe land to communities and disposed of more than 4,500 landmines and over 36,000 items of unexploded ordnance, including bombs, grenades, and bullets.
At the APOPO Visitor Center in Siem Reap, guests can witness these remarkable rodents in action, watch an educational video, and even hold one of the rats. The experience offers not only insight into a life-saving mission but also challenges long-held perceptions about rats.
Beyond Cambodia, APOPO’s HeroRATS are also active in other parts of the world—including Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania—where they assist with both mine detection and tuberculosis diagnosis by sniffing out TB-positive sputum samples. This highlights their versatility and growing value in public health.
As Cambodia continues its long journey toward becoming mine-free, organizations like APOPO—and their extraordinary rats—are making a future without fear possible. In a place where tragedy once lay buried in the soil, the HeroRATS are quietly, diligently, and heroically helping restore life and hope.
To Visit: The APOPO Visitor Center in Siem Reap is open to the public and offers guided tours, along with live demonstrations of the HeroRATS in action. If you visit the center, please consider making a donation—your support directly contributes to life-saving mine clearance and the ongoing training of these remarkable animals.
Website: APOPO
Location: APOPO Visitor Center in Siem Reap
