LOVELY RAT A landmine worker shows one of the 20 Africanraised rats used in mine detection in Cambodia June 13, 2021. Only 19 of the 20 rats are now working after one was forced to retire due to advanced age. The retired rat was able to detect 71 landmines during his five-year landmine-sniffing career. KHMER TIMES PHOTO
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has deployed a new team of mine sniffing rats to replace the "retired" ones in an effort to boost de-mining operations in the country.
The team comprises 20 African giant pouched rats which were imported from Tanzania and have undergone intense training.