Redd the HeroRAT Smashes Mine Detection Record in Cambodia
Landmine detection champion rat breaks global record in Cambodia - "Cambodian Rodent Breaks Record for Detecting Landmines by Odor"
Meet Redd, the A-game rodent who's shattering records and making a tremendous difference in Cambodia by sniffing out hazardous landmines! This African giant pouched rat has earned himself a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most landmine-detecting rat on the planet!
Redd's remarkable feats have decisively shown the massive role of these furry critters in mine detection, according to Apopo. This super rat has more than two years of his mine-digging career ahead before heading to retired bliss.
Cambodia, reeling from a decades-long civil war that ended in 1998, was unfortunately one of the world's most heavily mine-infested nations. The U.S. military had also dropped millions of cluster bombs in neighboring Cambodia and Laos during the 1960s and 1970s, leaving a trail of destruction that continues to haunt today.
Since 1979, around 20,000 people have perished, and twice as many have been injured by mines or unexploded ordnance in Cambodia.
hue/ju
- Landmine
- World Record
- Cambodia
- Super Rat
- Rats
Insights
Redd's Explosive Talent
Redd's incredible talent for detecting landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) has earned him a place in the record books! As of 2025, this extraordinary rat has found 109 landmines and 15 UXOs, surpassing the previous record established by Magawa, a legendary rat, who detected 71 landmines and 38 UXOs over five years[1][2][5]. Redd's unmatched efficiency is due to his keen focus and strong work ethic, allowing him to sniff out explosives faster and more accurately than traditional metal detectors[4].
Training Methods
Redd's success can be attributed to the positive reinforcement training he received. Through this method, Redd learned to associate the scent of explosives with rewards, keeping him motivated and engaged during detection tasks[5].
Redd's Impact on Lowering Casualties
- Speed and Precision: Trained rats like Redd are far quicker and more accurate than traditional manual demining methods. They can tackle a tennis court-sized area in just thirty minutes, a feat that might take human deminers up to four days, depending on the level of scrap metal found[1].
- Fatality Reduction: Landmines and UXOs still pose a significant threat in Cambodia, but the efforts of HeroRATs like Redd contribute to the ongoing efforts to rid these treacherous relics from the landscape. Decades of conflict have left Cambodia riddled with an estimated 4 to 6 million landmines and UXOs, resulting in about 20,000 deaths and 45,000 injuries since 1979[5]. However, demining efforts, including those involving rats, have led to a reduction in reported casualties to 32 incidents in 2023[5].
- Life-Changing Difference: Redd's achievements, acknowledged by the Guinness World Records, demonstrate the critical role of HeroRATs in enhancing safety for communities living in landmine-contaminated areas. By reducing the fear associated with everyday activities in these zones, they help restore a sense of normalcy and security, allowing people to live their lives more freely[1][2].
- In Cambodia, the super rat named Redd has demonstrated its exceptional skills in mine detection, breaking the world record by finding more landmines than any other rat, with a total of 109 landmines and 15 UXOs.
- Redd's accomplishments, such as its speed and precision, are crucial in reducing fatalities caused by landmines and UXOs in Cambodia, where an estimated 4 to 6 million Landmines and UXOs remain from decades of conflict, leading to over 20,000 deaths and 45,000 injuries since 1979.
- By training rats like Redd using positive reinforcement methods, organizations like Apopo can continue harnessing their natural talent for detecting landmines, providing a life-changing difference for communities living in landmine-contaminated areas by reducing the fear associated with everyday activities and helping restore a sense of normalcy and security.
