In a remarkable tale of animal heroism, an African giant pouched rat named Ronin has sniffed his way into the Guinness Book of World Records.

This exceptional rodent has uncovered 109 landmines and 15 pieces of 'unexploded ordnance' strewn across Cambodia 's landscapes since 2021, as reported by the non-profit organization he works for - APOPO, based in Tanzania, which employs hundreds of these incredible creatures.

The world record book acknowledges that Ronin's "crucial work" is making a significant impact on those living with the "fear that one misstep while going about their day-to-day lives could be their last," reports the Mirror US.

APOPO confirms that this record-breaking rat will continue his extraordinary work for at least another two years.

Phanny, Ronin's handler, proudly announced in a statement: "Ronin's achievements are a testament to the incredible potential of positive reinforcement training. He's not just an asset; he's a valued partner and colleague."

Ronin's efforts in Cambodia's northern Preah Vihear province have surpassed the previous record holder: Magawa, a rat who detected 71 mines and was awarded a gold medal for his bravery in 2020.

APOPO has been training rats like Ronin to identify mines for over 25 years. The training process involves clicker training, where the rat is taught to associate the sound of a click with a reward, encouraging them to learn how to detect explosives, according to CBS reports.

The organization currently boasts a team of 104 rodent recruits, affectionately dubbed HeroRATS. These rats are trained to detect chemicals found in landmines and other discarded battlefield weapons.

Their small size means they're not heavy enough to set off the mines. The charity asserts that these rats can inspect an area the size of a tennis court in about half an hour, a task that would take a human with a metal detector up to four days.

These HeroRATS are taught to work systematically within a grid pattern, signaling the presence of landmines by scratching at the ground. Rats like Ronin typically work for about half an hour each day, according to APOPO.

Once they reach a certain age, they retire and continue to be cared for by APOPO. Magawa, the previous record-holder, retired in 2021 and passed away in 2022.

Cambodia is dealing with the dangerous legacy of past conflicts, where up to six million unexploded munitions remain hidden beneath its soil, according to the Landmine Monitor's 2024 report. The lingering remnants of war have caused approximately 20,000 deaths and 45,000 injuries since 1979, as documented by the Landmine Monitor.

Relentless demining initiatives have been ongoing for years, involving heroic efforts by creatures like Ronin and other APOPO-trained rats.