Support APOPO's HeroRATs' life-saving missions!

Hello and welcome to the latest HeroRATs update! Here’s how your support is making a difference. 

We begin with the sad news of the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall on 1st October 2025. Dr. Goodall was a treasured member of APOPO’s Advisory Board, and we wish to pay tribute to her extraordinary life and lasting impact.

Dr. Goodall first visited APOPO in April 2004 and remained a steadfast supporter of our mission ever since. Her most recent visit to our operational headquarters in Morogoro, Tanzania, in 2024 was a reminder of her enduring curiosity, compassion, and belief in practical solutions that connect people, animals, and the planet. She was especially pleased to see that APOPO had begun training HeroRATs to detect trafficked wildlife products — an effort that reflects her lifelong commitment to protecting animals and nature. At the time, and in her honor, we named one of our young HeroRATs in training Jane.

Her thoughtful insight and encouragement were a great source of inspiration to our team, and her legacy will continue to motivate APOPO’s work toward a safer, more humane world. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

Cambodia – Thailand Conflict

In other news, our HeroRAT and demining teams were evacuated at the beginning of the last quarter from the Cambodia–Thailand border area, where APOPO had been conducting mine clearance. With the safety of staff and animals as our top priority, APOPO temporarily suspended work in that region due to conflict and relocated our teams to continue operations in safer zones. The move allows our teams to remain active while contributing to the safety of a culturally significant location. Once the situation near the border has fully stabilized, our teams will return to their original assignments along the border regions.

Alongside the reassignment of APOPO’s teams, APOPO has been actively supporting internally displaced families who fled to Siem Reap to escape the recent conflict near the Cambodia–Thailand border. Many arrived with very few belongings and were uncertain when—or if—they could safely return home.

In response, APOPO launched a successful fundraising campaign that enabled us to provide essential supplies to over 1,500 families. Working closely with local authorities, we delivered food, hygiene kits, and other daily necessities to help families through this difficult period.

At the same time, our teams carried out Mine Risk Education sessions to ensure families understand the dangers of returning to areas that may still contain explosives. Although tensions at the border have eased, some families remain displaced, while others are now beginning to return. Thanks to your support, they are doing so with the knowledge and tools to stay safe.

Mine Risk Education Sessions Worldwide

In further news about APOPO’s Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), we are also working globally to prevent future accidents and fatalities. 

For example, in Angola, these sessions teach people how to recognize and avoid explosive threats, ensuring that safety extends beyond the cleared areas. 

On September 26, APOPO Angola held a risk-education session at the 1º de Maio School Complex in Gabela Municipality, Cuanza Sul Province. The event aimed to raise awareness among students and teachers about the dangers posed by explosive remnants of war and to promote safe behaviour in affected communities.

The session engaged the entire school community, combining clear explanations with interactive activities to help participants understand how to identify warning signs and what to do if they encounter suspicious objects. One teacher described the experience as “an enlightening session,” noting that students left more aware and better prepared to act safely.

Through activities like this, APOPO helps build a culture of safety and awareness in Angola’s mine-affected provinces. These sessions ensure that communities not only benefit from cleared land but also gain the knowledge to live and work confidently in areas that are still undergoing clearance.

Finally, to end with some more happy news, our world record-breaking HeroRAT, Ronin has been hard at work in Cambodia, despite being moved, and his lifetime total finds now stand at an impressive 110 landmines, 16 UXOs, and he has helped clear more than 219,000 square meters of land! 

None of this positive work would have been possible without the support of the generosity of people like you. Thank you so much for your continued support of our HeroRATs, and we very much look forward to updating you next time!

Links:

• Website

We are now halfway through the year, and what an incredible year it has been already, thanks to amazing support, such as yours!

In the last quarter, you may have seen HeroRAT Ronin in the news when we proudly shared that he had been awarded a Guinness World Records title for most landmines detected by a rat. Since then, we’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible global response to his story.

Ronin's achievement has been reported by hundreds of media outlets worldwide. This level of global attention is a proud moment for APOPO, which has also provided a significant boost for our mission. It raises awareness of the life-saving work of our HeroRATs and highlights the innovative, cost-effective solutions we bring to humanitarian challenges around the world. 

If you saw the news, we hope you shared the very same sense of pride! 

Mine Action

In the last quarter, our HeroRATs have been diligently working in their countries of operation, detecting explosive remnants of war, and most importantly, clearing land for the communities we serve.

While it’s always exciting to see the HeroRATs’ tally of detected landmines and UXOs grow, the real success lies in the land they help confirm as safe. At APOPO, we know that mine action is about more than removing landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) — it’s about restoring confidence, safety, and opportunity. Land release is the central aim of all mine action, encompassing detailed processes like non-technical and technical surveys, clearance, and the formal handover of land for safe, productive use. In areas like Preah Vihear, Cambodia, where agriculture is a cornerstone of life, this means enabling families to farm, build, and thrive without fear.

 Finding explosives is important, but just as vital is verifying where no threats remain. Every square meter of land released helps people return to their land with confidence, rebuilding lives, supporting livelihoods, and fostering long-term development.

The psychological impact of this work is equally profound. Peace of mind comes from knowing your home, fields, route to school, and pathways are safe to walk on. This emotional security encourages resettlement, community development, and the renewal of daily life. With your continued support, our HeroRATs continue helping to bring this peace to more people, one safe step at a time.

TB Detection

In tuberculosis detection, our HeroRATs continue to provide efficient and accurate diagnoses to patients in Tanzania and Ethiopia. At the heart of APOPO’s mission are real people like Desalegn, and we thought you may like to see how your support changes lives through his story. 

Desalegn is a 26-year-old security guard from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and his life took a turn when he fell seriously ill. He lost weight, suffered from a persistent cough, and struggled to keep working — but despite several visits to health centers, his illness went undiagnosed. The uncertainty dragged on for months, draining his energy and his hope.

Everything changed when his sputum was re-tested using APOPO’s HeroRATs. Our rats quickly flagged his sample as positive for tuberculosis (TB), prompting a laboratory recheck that confirmed the diagnosis. With the right treatment finally in place, Desalegn began to recover. Today, he’s healthy again and back at work, full of gratitude and looking forward to the future.

This is just one example of what our work is all about. Whether it's clearing landmines or diagnosing TB, APOPO exists to help people reclaim their lives. And with your support, we can reach even more individuals like Desalegn — people whose futures depend on timely, life-saving intervention.

Of course, none of these achievements would be possible without the dedication and support of generous donors like you.

Thank you so much for your enduring support, and we look forward to updating you next time!

Links:

• APOPO Website
• Ronin's world record news