Latest news with #Apopo
The Star
7 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Giant rats sniff out land mines in Cambodia
Mott Sreymom, 34, a rat handler with Apopo carries an African giant pouched rat back from a landmine field. — Photos: ANTON L. DELGADO/AP Rats may send some squealing, but in Cambodia, teams of the not-so-little critters have become indispensable in helping specialists detect land mines that have killed and maimed thousands in the South-East Asian country. The African giant pouched rats, which can grow up to 45 centimetres and weigh up to 1.5 kilograms, are on the front line, making their way nimbly across fields to signal to their handlers when they get a whiff of TNT, used in most land mines and explosive ordnance. "While working with these rats, I have always found mines and they have never skipped a single one,' said Mott Sreymom, a rat handler at Apopo, a humanitarian demining group that trains and deploys rodent detection teams across the world. A mine detection rat with the humanitarian demining organisation Apopo works in a landmine field in Siem Reap, Cambodia. "I really trust these mine detection rats," Mott said while on her lunch break after working on a land mine field in the province of Siem Reap. After three decades of conflict in the previous century, remnants of war littered approximately 4,500sq km of Cambodian land, according to a survey by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) in 2004. This affected all 25 Cambodian provinces and nearly half of the country's 14,000 villages. As of 2018, CMAA reported 1,970sq km remain uncleared. Rat detection teams march in line towards a landmine field. The rats have a keen sense of smell, making them a favorite at Apopo, which also employs land mine-detecting dog teams. "Dogs and rats are better compared to other animals because they are trainable,' said Alberto Zacarias, a field supervisor of Apopo's technical survey dog teams, adding that they are also friendly and easily learn commands. Rat detection teams deployed to a landmine field. Since demining officially began in Cambodia in 1992, more than 1.1 million mines have been cleared, as well as approximately 2.9 million other explosive remnants of war, according to a 2022 government demining progress report. And the African giant pouched rats are doing their part. "We work with them almost daily, so we get closer,' Mott said. "They are very friendly and they don't move around and get scared. They are like family.' – AP
Scoop
05-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Āpōpō Welcomes ‘Built To Last' Report As Mandate To Strengthen Aotearoa's Infrastructure Asset Management System
Press Release – Apopo The reports emphasis on sustainability, stewardship, equity, and system reform aligns directly with pps purpose: to enhance the capability of asset management professionals for Aotearoa New Zealand through education, accreditation, guidance, … Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington – Āpōpō – Infrastructure Asset Management Professionals, Aotearoa New Zealand's lead association for asset management professionals, welcomes the Built to Last report released by the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP as a timely and compelling call to invest in the long-term resilience of the nation's infrastructure. The report's emphasis on sustainability, stewardship, equity, and system reform aligns directly with Āpōpō's purpose: to enhance the capability of asset management professionals for Aotearoa New Zealand through education, accreditation, guidance, and thought leadership. Supporting a Future-Ready Workforce Āpōpō strongly endorses all seven recommendations made in the report – particularly Recommendation 4: Increase Asset Management Workforce Capability. With 99% of infrastructure already in place (Te Waihanga 2024), and future investment expected to prioritise maintenance and renewal, effective asset management is more critical than ever. Skilled knowledgeable professionals are needed now and in the future to take responsibility for delivering that effective asset management. New Zealand does not have sufficient capability in asset management to ensure we are realising all the economic, environmental, social and cultural value from our past current and future investments in infrastructure. 'Meeting these challenges requires more than money – it requires a shift to long-term, integrated thinking to deliver the competency and capacity in asset management that we require,' says Murray Pugh, Āpōpō Chief Executive. 'Asset management must be recognised as an essential discipline that safeguards intergenerational wellbeing, and this must be supported by formal education and certification pathways to ensure credible practitioners are added to the profession.' Āpōpō is already leading this shift. Through nationally recognised learning pathways, credentials, and technical guidance, the organisation is upskilling professionals across central and local government, the private sector, and community organisations. Its Professional Practice Accreditation Scheme – aligned with the Global Certification Scheme (GCS) of the World Partners in Asset Management – (WPiAM), offers recognition for practitioners at two levels: Asset Management Associate (AMA) and Asset Management Chartered Professional (AMCP). Underpinned by Āpōpō's Competency Framework, which integrates international standards (GFMAM) and ISO, the Pou Herenga model of culturally grounded practice, this scheme is building a skilled, knowledgeable, and ethical asset management workforce for the future. Strengthening Organisations and System Leadership Āpōpō is preparing an Organisational Accreditation programme to help lift asset management maturity at a system level. The initiative will recognise public and private infrastructure asset owning organisations for demonstrating excellence in asset governance, planning, continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement, and value realisation. Additionally, Āpōpō co-convenes with Te Waihanga – New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, the Central Government Asset Management Community of Practice. This collaboration provides a platform for asset owning agencies to share challenges and coordinate efforts for better outcomes. Embedding Long-Termism and Te ao Māori Values The HCF and WSP report highlights the tension between short-term political cycles and the long-term nature of infrastructure decisions. Āpōpō advocates for systems thinking, where infrastructure planning and asset management are grounded in wellbeing, resilience, and intergenerational equity. Āpōpō's work draws on global frameworks and adapts them to Aotearoa's unique context. Te ao Māori principles are woven throughout guidance and professional standards (such as the next generation authoritative Āpōpō Guide and the Infrastructure Valuation and Depreciation Guidelines), reinforcing stewardship and interconnectedness for delivering value that benefits all communities. The 2024 Āpōpō Supreme Award for Asset Management Excellence went to Nelson City Council for its Kaupapa Māori Asset Management Framework – an iwi-led, values-driven approach that exemplifies the future of asset management in Aotearoa. Built to Last recognises this project as a national exemplar. Professionalising the System Āpōpō calls on central government to take immediate action to support the professionalisation of the sector: Recognise Āpōpō's accreditation schemes within the public sector capability framework. Invest in professional development and an education-to-employment talent pipeline. Support organisational accreditation to lift asset management maturity and embed continuous improvement. Partner with professional bodies to co-develop national guidance, build communities of practice, and align with public value. Building a Resilient Future Built to Last affirms what asset management professionals have long known: our infrastructure future depends on people, capability, and culture. 'We thank the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP for their leadership in advancing this critical conversation,' says Murray Pugh. 'The time to act is now – together, we can support competent and capable asset management professionals to deliver enduring public value from our infrastructure assets.'
Scoop
05-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Āpōpō Welcomes ‘Built To Last' Report As Mandate To Strengthen Aotearoa's Infrastructure Asset Management System
Press Release – Apopo The reports emphasis on sustainability, stewardship, equity, and system reform aligns directly with pps purpose: to enhance the capability of asset management professionals for Aotearoa New Zealand through education, accreditation, guidance, … Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington – Āpōpō – Infrastructure Asset Management Professionals, Aotearoa New Zealand's lead association for asset management professionals, welcomes the Built to Last report released by the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP as a timely and compelling call to invest in the long-term resilience of the nation's infrastructure. The report's emphasis on sustainability, stewardship, equity, and system reform aligns directly with Āpōpō's purpose: to enhance the capability of asset management professionals for Aotearoa New Zealand through education, accreditation, guidance, and thought leadership. Supporting a Future-Ready Workforce Āpōpō strongly endorses all seven recommendations made in the report – particularly Recommendation 4: Increase Asset Management Workforce Capability. With 99% of infrastructure already in place (Te Waihanga 2024), and future investment expected to prioritise maintenance and renewal, effective asset management is more critical than ever. Skilled knowledgeable professionals are needed now and in the future to take responsibility for delivering that effective asset management. New Zealand does not have sufficient capability in asset management to ensure we are realising all the economic, environmental, social and cultural value from our past current and future investments in infrastructure. 'Meeting these challenges requires more than money – it requires a shift to long-term, integrated thinking to deliver the competency and capacity in asset management that we require,' says Murray Pugh, Āpōpō Chief Executive. 'Asset management must be recognised as an essential discipline that safeguards intergenerational wellbeing, and this must be supported by formal education and certification pathways to ensure credible practitioners are added to the profession.' Āpōpō is already leading this shift. Through nationally recognised learning pathways, credentials, and technical guidance, the organisation is upskilling professionals across central and local government, the private sector, and community organisations. Its Professional Practice Accreditation Scheme – aligned with the Global Certification Scheme (GCS) of the World Partners in Asset Management – (WPiAM), offers recognition for practitioners at two levels: Asset Management Associate (AMA) and Asset Management Chartered Professional (AMCP). Underpinned by Āpōpō's Competency Framework, which integrates international standards (GFMAM) and ISO, the Pou Herenga model of culturally grounded practice, this scheme is building a skilled, knowledgeable, and ethical asset management workforce for the future. Strengthening Organisations and System Leadership Āpōpō is preparing an Organisational Accreditation programme to help lift asset management maturity at a system level. The initiative will recognise public and private infrastructure asset owning organisations for demonstrating excellence in asset governance, planning, continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement, and value realisation. Additionally, Āpōpō co-convenes with Te Waihanga – New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, the Central Government Asset Management Community of Practice. This collaboration provides a platform for asset owning agencies to share challenges and coordinate efforts for better outcomes. Embedding Long-Termism and Te ao Māori Values The HCF and WSP report highlights the tension between short-term political cycles and the long-term nature of infrastructure decisions. Āpōpō advocates for systems thinking, where infrastructure planning and asset management are grounded in wellbeing, resilience, and intergenerational equity. Āpōpō's work draws on global frameworks and adapts them to Aotearoa's unique context. Te ao Māori principles are woven throughout guidance and professional standards (such as the next generation authoritative Āpōpō Guide and the Infrastructure Valuation and Depreciation Guidelines), reinforcing stewardship and interconnectedness for delivering value that benefits all communities. The 2024 Āpōpō Supreme Award for Asset Management Excellence went to Nelson City Council for its Kaupapa Māori Asset Management Framework – an iwi-led, values-driven approach that exemplifies the future of asset management in Aotearoa. Built to Last recognises this project as a national exemplar. Professionalising the System Āpōpō calls on central government to take immediate action to support the professionalisation of the sector: Recognise Āpōpō's accreditation schemes within the public sector capability framework. Invest in professional development and an education-to-employment talent pipeline. Support organisational accreditation to lift asset management maturity and embed continuous improvement. Partner with professional bodies to co-develop national guidance, build communities of practice, and align with public value. Building a Resilient Future Built to Last affirms what asset management professionals have long known: our infrastructure future depends on people, capability, and culture. 'We thank the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP for their leadership in advancing this critical conversation,' says Murray Pugh. 'The time to act is now – together, we can support competent and capable asset management professionals to deliver enduring public value from our infrastructure assets.'
The Star
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
QuickCheck: Can rats detect tuberculosis by smell?
RATS might not be the first creatures that come to mind when you think of healthcare saviours. Much like in the Tom and Jerry cartoons, we often perceive rats as quick and mischievous. However, in reality, their keen sense of smell is being utilised for far more significant purposes. Can rats be used to detect tuberculosis (TB)? Verdict: YES A Belgian nonprofit called Apopo, originally known for training rats to sniff out landmines, has been training African giant pouched rats to detect TB – a disease that remains prevalent in many regions of Africa – since 2008. In medical centres across Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, these rodents are already at work. With their extraordinary sense of smell, they can detect the scent of TB bacteria in human sputum samples, often catching infections that standard lab tests miss. It takes about nine months to train a rat, but the results are fruitful. In just their first 16 months of work in Mozambique, the rats helped uncover 764 additional TB cases, representing a 44% increase in detection compared to conventional clinic methods. Of course, there are limitations. These furry diagnosticians cannot determine whether an infection is drug-resistant, and their results still require confirmation through laboratory tests. Nevertheless, many researchers and healthcare professionals see great potential. In the future, the rats might even be stationed in regional labs and hospitals. However, further studies are needed to gauge the public's perception of this unconventional approach to saving lives. References:
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ronin the rat breaks world record in Cambodia by detecting more than 100 landmines
An African landmine-sniffing rat in Cambodia has broken a world record after detecting more than 100 landmines and other explosives in the country, announced its non-profit Apopo on Friday. The giant pouched rat has been named by the Belgian charity as its most successful Mine Detection Rat (MDR) for uncovering 109 landmines and 15 items of unexploded ordnance since 2021, Apopo said in a statement. Ronin the rat has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records which said that the rodent's "crucial work" is making a real difference to people who have had to live with the "fear that one misstep while going about their day-to-day lives could be their last'. 'And Ronin's work is far from finished. At just five years old, he may have two years or more of detection work ahead of him, continuing to build on his already record-breaking total,' the statement by Apopo said. Ronin was deployed to Preah Vihear province in Cambodia in August 2021, Apopo said. Meet #Ronin, APOPO's record-breaking rat. He holds a Guinness World Record title for the most landmines detected by a rat. Support Ronin's a HeroRAT: #WorldRatDay #SavingLives #GuinnessWorldRecord #APOPO — APOPO (@herorats) April 4, 2025 The rodent has broken the previous record held by the African giant pouched rat Magawa who detected 71 landmines and 38 pieces of unexploded ordnance over the course of five years. The Tanzania-based Apopo non-profit has 104 rodent recruits which it calls HeroRATS. Its page of Ronin says that the avocado-loving rat is 68cm in length, weighs 1,175gm, and his personality is 'hardworking, but friendly and relaxed'. Scarred by decades of civil war, Cambodia is one of the world's most heavily landmined countries, with more than 1,000sqkm (621 sq miles) of land still contaminated. It has among the highest number of amputees per capita, with more than 40,000 people losing limbs to explosives. Apopo says its HeroRATs can search an area the size of a tennis court in 30 minutes. The same task would take a deminer with a metal detector up to four days depending on how much scrap metal was lying around. It says that the trained rats can detect the chemical compound within explosives called TNT, and they ignore scrap metal, unlike traditional methods with a metal detector.
