AKP Phnom Penh, June 07, 2021 --    

Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and APOPO, a registered Belgian non-governmental organisation and U.S. non-profit which trains southern giant pouched rats to detect landmines and tuberculosis, have discussed their cooperation in mine and UXOs clearance.

The information was shared this morning by H.E. Heng Ratana, Director General of CMAC, after his meeting with Mr. Michael Heiman, Regional Director and Cambodian Country Director of APOPO.

The discussion touched on issues related to HeroRATs (mine-detecting rats), technical survey dogs and purchase of CMAC’s dogs for overseas operations, he added.

According to the CMAC director general, there are 34 HeroRATs in operations, 5 retirements and 18 in trainings in Cambodia. HeroRAT Magawa, presented with a suitably rat-sized PDSA Gold Medal, has retired from duty and he rests in Siem Reap. 

On the other hand, the dogs dispatched from CMAC to South Sudan, Angola and Turkey have been fulfilling well their duties, he said, underlining that APOPO has asked to buy more dogs from CMAC to operate in some other countries.

At the same time, he continued, CMAC and APOPO also discussed to seek funding opportunity from the Belgian government for supporting demining operations in Cambodia for the next five years (2022-2026).

(Photo: CMAC)

By C. Nika