APOPO Demining Visitor Centre

After the Botanical Garden, it was a 2-minute ride to the home of the Hero Rats. They had some very educational and moving exhibits in an airconditioned environment and a 45 minute tour. Our guide was very entertaining and referred to the Hero Rats as "being in Commando Training". Nancy asked about the local people we see with missing limbs. He told the group that as a 3rd world country Cambodia has no social safety net for the disabled at all. There is support for missing limb prosthetics and rehab as part of the program but there is no help beyond that. People have to survive on their own. He said it is best if we can support local people by buying a book or whatever they are selling rather than if they are begging...one wonders how realistic this is when one is missing two hands. This is testament to the proud and self sufficient nature of the Cambodian people. Very moving and sad to think that as we visit, Russia has laid down innumerable land mines in the Ukraine conflict currently dragging on.
APOPO is a Belgian NGO that started operations in Africa 25 years ago and trains rats and dogs to scent out land mines and unexploded bombs. They operate in over a dozen countries, including Cambodia which is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world with over 6 million mines having been placed and that have killed and maimed thousands of innocent civilians, mainly children, long after the wars they were used in ended.
There are 6 teams with a total of 43 rats, each of which costs $10,000 dollars just to train, who currently work in Cambodia. Further expansion of the program is limited by funds. The admission ($10 US) supports the mission and we bought a couple of coasters to use as a "rat" instead of a mouse for our computers.Read more