With JTI Foundation support, demining specialist APOPO began deploying its animal companions to mine clearing operations in Cambodia around ten years ago. Since then, it has successfully used both highly trained rats and dogs to assist in the identification of mines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW).
Technically speaking, APOPO’s approach to detecting mines and other ERW is based on ‘Animal Detection Systems’ (ADS) – using its famous Mine Detection Rats and Technical Survey Dogs – with their highly developed sense of smell – to sniff out potentially hazardous explosive signatures without detonating the devices themselves.
As the success of this approach has been validated by many years work in the field, APOPO’s ambition is now to develop a capacity to deploy its teams beyond Cambodia.
In particular, its aim is to establish teams that are mobile and ready-to-deploy to other countries or regions afflicted by the prevalence of mines and ERW – rapidly migrating the techniques pioneered in Cambodia to those conflict zones with the most immediate need.
Based on its experience in Asia, APOPO believes that its work restoring access to demined land and infrastructure will dramatically improve local livelihoods through the release of land for agriculture, housing and other productive purposes – while also supporting the work of local mine action initiatives.
25 years of investment in disaster management
Countries where we have supported our partners’ work in response to a growing range of threats to life and livelihood
Million CHF invested since 2001 to help communities better prepare for and recover from disasters
Projects addressing disaster-related challenges and supporting community resilience
