We save lives by training animals to help rid the world of landmines and tuberculosis
Meet the Heroes Behind the Mission
Every day, APOPO’s trained HeroRATs and HeroDOGs use their extraordinary sense of smell to detect landmines and deadly diseases—saving lives and restoring hope in communities across the globe.
From war-torn fields to crowded clinics, our animal partners work faster, safer, and more cost-effectively than traditional methods. They don’t just sniff out danger—they unlock opportunity.
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THE PROBLEM
Over 60 countries are contaminated with hidden landmines and other explosive remnants of war, that cause tragic accidents and hamper communities from developing their productive land.
Meanwhile, slow and inaccurate detection methods make tuberculosis the world’s most deadly infectious disease. 10.8 million new people contracted TB in 2023, 2.7 million went undiagnosed, and 1.3 million died from the disease.
THE SOLUTION
APOPO’s scent detection animals, nicknamed ‘HeroRATs’ and ‘HeroDOGs’, help to rid the world of landmines and tuberculosis – returning safe land back to communities for development, and freeing people from serious illness so they can get back on their feet.