Siem Reap, 5 December 2025 — Twenty Mine Detection Rats, also known as HeroRATs, have successfully passed external accreditation in Cambodia, meeting International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and confirming their readiness for operational deployment. This accreditation is the final step in a rigorous process designed to ensure that detection animals and teams meet internationally recognised safety and performance benchmarks.
The process involved controlled testing under operational conditions, with close oversight from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA). Following external assessment, 20 of the 24 APOPO mine detection rats (MDR) that arrived in Cambodia were accredited for field operations. These rats were approved for deployment after demonstrating consistent and reliable detection performance under operational testing conditions.
The remaining four rats were earmarked in advance to support outreach and education activities at the APOPO Visitor Center. Through scheduled demonstrations, they help visitors understand how scent detection works in practice and how mine detection rats contribute to humanitarian mine action.
Building national capacity through local partnerships
The accreditation milestone was accompanied by an important step in capacity building. Three CMAC deminers successfully completed APOPO specialized MDR Handler training, equipping them with the skills needed to work safely and effectively with mine detection rats during clearance operations.
Training national staff is central to APOPO’s approach in Cambodia. By transferring operational and animal-handling expertise to local partners, APOPO supports long-term program sustainability while ensuring that mine detection activities remain fully integrated within national mine action structures.
This collaboration enables Cambodian teams to deploy mine detection rats alongside other clearance assets, strengthening overall operational capacity.
Landmine contamination in Cambodia
Cambodia remains one of the countries most affected by landmines and other explosive remnants of war, a legacy of decades of conflict. While substantial progress has been made, contamination continues to affect rural communities, restricting access to agricultural land, infrastructure development, and safe movement.
Many affected areas require systematic clearance to locate and remove individual mines buried below the surface. Detecting these devices safely and efficiently remains essential to reducing risk and returning land to productive use.
APOPO’s demining work in Cambodia
APOPO works in partnership with CMAC and Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to support humanitarian demining through the detection of landmines using scent-based methods. Mine detection rats are trained to locate the odor of explosives and indicate the precise location of mines in prepared search areas.
By rapidly and accurately detecting mines, the rats help clearance teams progress more efficiently while maintaining strict safety standards. Their work directly contributes to the safe removal of explosive hazards and the release of land for civilian use.