On the job: Apopo is a Belgian NGO that focuses on mine searching and disease tracking through its trained rats, known as HeroRATs. — The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
LY Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said mine-sniffing rats will clear 8 sq km this year with the support of Apopo in Cambodia.
Thuch made the announcement on Aug 11 during a meeting with Apopo’s newly appointed director Michael Raine.
Apopo is a Belgian non-governmental organisation with many decades of experience in mine searching and disease tracking through their trained rats, known as HeroRATs.
“Apopo has deployed Detection Mine (MDR) rats for mine and ammunition clearance since 2017. They also employ mine-sniffing dogs, or what they call Technical Survey Dogs (TSD) or smart TSDs,” he said.
According to Thuch, Apopo currently has more than 250 animals working worldwide in mine and Unexploded Ordnance clearance.
Thuch said the Apopo presence in Cambodia began in 2014 in cooperation with the Mine Action Centre, when they formed a mine-sniffing rat team in Siem Reap province.
From 2016 to 2021, Apopo also established working teams in Phreah Vihear province and formed the nation’s first smart TSD team.
“Currently, Apopo has rat and dog teams cooperating with CMAC and the Mines Advisory Group in Siem Reap, Battambang, Preah Vihear and Ratanakkiri, with a total of 124 staff and 80 animals,” he said. — The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
