EP 007: Saving Lives with HeroRats and HeroDogs!

Rats and dogs aren’t usually the first things that come to mind when we talk about demining and bomb detection. But what if we told you that there were actual rats out in the world who are trained to detect bombs?   Sit down for this one of a kind episode where we get to chat with the APOPO team including Michael Heiman, Head of Programmes, all the way from Siem Reap, Cambodia to discuss the skills of life-saving rats, dogs,  and other creative methods for demining and UXO clearance.    Michael was appointed as the Head of Programs in August 2022, after previously serving as a Regional Manager and leading the Cambodia Mine Action Program since April 2018. APOPO’s Program in Cambodia is the largest mine action program in the organization, operating with 70+ rats and dogs in several locations in Cambodia in partnership withNational and International organizations. One of Michael’s main roles is to develop APOPO’s Technical Survey Dog methodology and implement it within APOPO programs and partners in Cambodia, South Sudan, Angola, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Michael represents APOPO on the IMAS Review Board, contributing to the development of IMAS Animal Detection chapters and Technical Notes. Prior to joining APOPO, Michael spent 10+ years leading various survey and clearance tasks, writing national standards and SOP’s, building training and accreditation areas, testing equipment, machines and animals. Michael also served 10 years in the Military Engineering Corps.