Lesson made on April 12, 2025
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Reading Lesson:
Landmines are hidden bombs buried in the ground during wars. They explode when someone steps on them, even many years after the war is over. Even though landmines were used a long time ago, there are still millions of them buried in over 60 countries. In Cambodia, many were left behind after years of war, and they still hurt people today, especially children.
Because landmines are hard and dangerous to find, trained rats are now helping people remove them. These rats are smart, fast, and have a great sense of smell. They are also light enough to walk over landmines without setting them off. Their sensitive noses can sniff out the smell of the explosives, helping their human handlers find and safely remove the bombs.
One special rat in Cambodia has found 109 landmines. This rat is much bigger than a normal rat–about the size of a cat–but still light enough to safely search dangerous areas. His work has helped make the land safer for people to live, farm, and play on.
These rats are trained by a group that also teaches them to sniff out diseases in hospitals. They can search large areas much faster than people using metal detectors. Thanks to these amazing animals, more people are staying safe and old war zones are becoming safe places once again.
Comprehension Quiz:
Speaking and Writing Activities:
– Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.
– Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.
1. What are some other jobs that animals can do for humans?
2. Would you travel to Cambodia? What are some places in Southeast Asia that you would like to visit?
3. Have you ever seen or read a story where an animal saves a person? What happened in the story?
More Reading Practice:
Why does Cambodia have so many landmines?
There are many landmines in Cambodia because the country had a lot of wars in the past. For many years, different groups were fighting for power. One of the most serious times was during the 1970s, when a group called the Khmer Rouge took control of the country. After that, more fighting continued between the Khmer Rouge and other groups. Soldiers from different sides put landmines in the ground to protect their areas and stop enemies from moving forward.
These landmines were often hidden in fields, forests, and even near villages. When the war ended, many landmines were still there. People did not always know where they were buried. That made it dangerous for people to walk, farm, or build homes. Even many years later, landmines are still a big problem. They have hurt or killed thousands of people, and they make life harder for those who live in the countryside.
Today, people and organizations are working to remove the landmines. It takes a long time because they must be very careful. Still, they continue to clean the land so it can be safe again for everyone.
What other countries have landmines?
Countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria have many landmines because they had long and dangerous wars that lasted for many years. In Afghanistan, landmines were used during the war with the Soviet Union in the 1980s and again during later fighting between different groups in the country. Many landmines are still in the ground, especially in rural areas, and they continue to hurt people. In Iraq, landmines were used during wars in the 1980s and 1990s, and again during more recent conflicts. These landmines make it hard for people to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. Syria also has many landmines because of the civil war that started in 2011. Landmines were used by different sides in the war, and they now make it dangerous for families trying to go back to their towns and farms.
In Africa, countries such as Angola and Sudan have serious landmine problems. Angola had a long civil war that ended in 2002, but landmines are still buried in many parts of the country. These landmines make farming and travel very difficult, especially in poor villages. Sudan also had years of conflict, and many landmines were placed during that time. In both countries, many people have lost arms or legs, or even died, because they stepped on landmines while doing everyday things like walking or working.
In Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina has landmines left over from a war that happened in the 1990s. During that war, landmines were used to separate areas and protect fighters. Today, the war is over, but thousands of landmines are still in the ground. Some forests, mountains, and even areas near towns are not safe. People in Bosnia are still working to remove the landmines, but it is slow and dangerous work.
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