Meet The Rats Saving Lives At The Apopo Visitor Center

The APOPO Visitor Center in Siem Reap offers visitors an educational and inspiring experience of how specially trained hero rats are helping to save lives by detecting landmines and tuberculosis. This exciting opportunity allows visitors to explore education, innovation, and social impact in a single visit.

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Introduction To Apopo Visitor Center

Visitors to the Apopo Visitor Center, which is located in Siem Reap, can enjoy experiences that are not typical of other types of tourism. The focus of Apopo is the work of the organization that has trained African giant pouched rats, referred to as HeroRATs, to find tuberculosis and landmines. When you visit the center, you will see how the rats are trained and find out how the life-saving work that they do is impacting so many lives around the globe.

APOPO Visitor Center in Siem Reap has trained African giant pouched rats

The Apopo Visitor Centre allows guests to learn how the amazing detection rats protect and improve the safety and health of communities, and therefore, it is an excellent place for families, students, and other socially conscious tourists to visit. The Apopo Visitor Centre aims to be a centre of excellence through education via interactive demonstrations, storytelling, and compelling displays that help visitors appreciate how innovative science and empathy will deliver solutions to many of the world’s most pressing global challenges. In addition, by supporting the Apopo Visitor Centre, guests directly support APOPO in continuing to fulfill its mission to clear landmines and save lives, thus making the visit both enjoyable and meaningful!

History Of Apopo Visitor Center

The APOPO project started in the mid-90s in Belgium as an innovative way to help find and remove landmines by training African Giant Pouched Rats to detect landmines. The idea came about after Bart Weetjens and other scientists became aware of how well these rodents smell and realized that they could use them to detect buried mines with much greater safety and effectiveness than current methods offered. The project was officially launched in 1997.

APOPO has been involved in Mine Detection since its beginning, but it wasn’t until recently that its focus was broadened to include tuberculosis screening and disaster rescue. They are now able to train animals to do life-saving tasks in many different parts of the world. To create awareness about this unique type of work and to help educate visitors to Cambodia and the surrounding area, they have recently opened a Visitor Center in Siem Reap.

As of January 2018, the Visitor Center was officially opened to showcase what HeroRATs do, and the science and training that go into HeroRAT operations. Visitors can learn about what is involved in Landmine Clearance, participate in demonstrations that highlight the rats’ ability to detect landmines, and see how their work contributes to the creation of safer and healthier communities.

The Mission Of Apopo Visitor Center

Visitors to the Apopo Visitor Centre learn about how APOPO’s life-saving work has a direct impact on the world and why the APOPO mission is important. Two primary educational activities offered by the centre demonstrate how innovative scent detection technologies are being applied for the greater good.

Detecting Landmines

The main goal of APOPO is to train HeroRATs to detect hidden landmines and explosive remnants of war. The African giant pouched rats that have been raised to detect the scent of explosives can locate explosives much faster than any old-style detection method could, enabling them to clear land of contamination much more efficiently and safely, so people and their communities can comfortably farm, build, or rebuild without fear of imminent danger.

Detecting Tuberculosis

APOPO trains rats to provide support to public health, such as locating tuberculosis (TB) within human sputum specimens. With TB detection, rats may evaluate many specimens very quickly compared to traditional laboratory techniques; this facilitates the prompt diagnosis and treatment of individuals who would likely remain undiagnosed, resulting in lives being saved and the spread of the disease being reduced.

APOPO trains rats to Detect Tuberculosis

The two main activities of APOPO, removing potentially harmful landmines and increasing the speed of TB detection, are reasons why the Visitor Centre is such an excellent venue for learning about this important humanitarian enterprise.

4 Unforgettable Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss

At the Apopo Visitor Center, a visitor’s experience will go far beyond simply looking at exhibits; they will get an understanding of inspiring humanitarian work and have an opportunity to be involved in some of the more memorable activities that bring together visitors with APOPO’s mission to change lives.

Observe The HeroRATs In Action

For many visitors to the Apopo Visitor Center, observing HeroRATs in action is one of the many reasons for their visit. Through live demonstrations, visitors have the opportunity to see how specially trained rats are used to search a simulated minefield for explosive materials hidden in the earth.

During this demonstration, the staff will explain how the rats are trained through a system of positive reinforcement, why the rats are the best choice for this task, and how their lightweight characteristics allow for safe operation compared to traditional methods. Through this experience, visitors will learn about the innovative ways to solve dangerous, time-consuming, and difficult tasks faster and more compassionately. So, if you have a chance, you should meet these rats at least once – one of the must-see activities in Siem Reap.

Learn About Landmine Detection Up Close

In addition to the demonstrations, the center provides detailed explanations of APOPO’s landmine detection procedure using maps, exhibits, and actual field-use equipment. Visitors will discover how landmines still have an impact on communities long after hostilities are over, impeding daily safety, farming, and education.

Employees tell tales from the nations where APOPO works, describing how cleared land is given back to the locals for farming and housing. Visitors have a stronger emotional connection to the long-term advantages and humanitarian significance of demining as a result of this experience.

Join A Guided Tour With APOPO Experts

Through this guided tour, you will get an inside look at the science of training and the local communities that have been affected by the work of APOPO.

On this tour, you will interact with trained staff who will explain the different aspects of their job, including their training program, how the animals are trained, and how their work is affecting local communities. This type of education is beneficial as it helps people understand how people are affected by the work of APOPO and how science is used for good.

Interact With Educational Exhibits And Support The Mission

The educational exhibits show the different ways in which APOPO has been successful, including pictures and videos as well as interactive displays. After viewing the many educational exhibits from around the world, you will understand the impact of donations and visitor support on the training programs and field operations of APOPO. Most visitors leave having been inspired by their visit and with an increased sense of global responsibility and a desire to support ongoing humanitarian innovation through ongoing support.

Entrance Fee

Touring the Center is not only very inexpensive (10 USD/pax) but also provides significant benefit to those who would like to assist in an important humanitarian effort. Children younger than ten years old can be accompanied by adults free of charge as well, creating an ideal family excursion.

Opening Hours

The Apopo Visitor Center is open every day and allows you to add this unique experience to your travel plans with ease. It’s open daily between 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, but the last guided tour begins at 4:30 PM, so arrive earlier than that, you will have time to enjoy everything without being in a hurry.

For best results, visit the Apopo Visitor Centre during the dry season (usually Nov – Apr) in Siem Reap because the weather should be pleasant, and traveling around Siem Reap will be easier. The best times of day to visit are in the mornings when temperatures will be cooler, and tours will be less crowded, giving you more opportunities to have close contact with your guide and gain greater insight into APOPO’s work to save lives.

How To Get To the Apopo Visitor Center

The APOPO Visitor Centre is conveniently located close to the Angkor temple complex and is easily accessible from central Siem Reap (Pub Street) as part of your Angkor area sightseeing itinerary. The best way to reach the APOPO Visitor Centre is by tuk-tuk, providing a comfortable journey and scenery to enjoy along the way.

A tuk-tuk ride from either central Siem Reap or Pub Street will take approximately 15-25 minutes, depending on traffic. A one-way tuk-tuk ride will cost around 5-8 USD. However, if you would like to include your tuk-tuk driver waiting for you at APOPO, the round-trip cost will be around USD10-15 for a round-trip plus waiting time. It is best to confirm the tuk-tuk driver’s fee before departing, so you do not get caught off guard.

To get more comfort, you could easily go by taxi or private car, which would cost approximately 12-18 USD each person. The price will depend on your hotel’s location and the amount of time you will need to wait for your driver. This type of transportation is ideal for families or small groups.

For active travelers who are staying close to the beach, there are also opportunities to rent a bicycle for 2-4 USD per day, but this is only recommended for people who have experience with riding a bicycle over extended periods of time under the sun.

Things To Know Before Traveling To the Apopo Visitor Center

Visiting the Apopo Visitor Center can be made easier and better understood by knowing some important practical information about your visit. The information below will help prepare you for your visit, make it easier to understand what to expect during your time there, and get the best value from this inspiring attraction.

To see the guided tours and live HeroRAT demonstrations, please check the daily schedule before your visit. Guided tours and live HeroRAT demonstrations are conducted at certain times of the day.
When you arrive at the Apopo Visitor Center, please allow yourself enough time to register and explore the information panels before the start of the demonstration.
Please be prepared with comfortable shoes and lightweight clothing, since a portion of your visit will involve walking and standing outside.

You may take pictures or video using a digital camera and/or cell phone; however, please respect staff members’ requests regarding photo-taking of the HeroRATs and training areas.
Please allow 60 to 90 minutes for a complete experience that includes an introduction to the programs, a demonstration, and a FAQs period with the staff.
If you are provided with the opportunity, it may be best to visit the Apopo Visitor Center in the morning to avoid the heat and to reduce crowds during demonstrations.
Consider supporting the mission of APOPO by stopping by the donation or souvenir area at the end of your tour, if available.

Final Thoughts: Is the Apopo Visitor Center Worth Visiting?

Travelers looking for a memorable and impactful experience in Siem Reap should make sure to add the Apopo Visitor Center to their list of must-see stops. This incredible sight seeks to merge education, inspiration, and compassion by demonstrating how HeroRATs are trained to locate and remove landmines and identify areas at high risk of contamination by disease. Through our partnership with Seni World, we encourage you to visit the Apopo Visitor Center and also include an educational element to your journey in Siem Reap.

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