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!

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