Cambodia
She found land mines and saved many lives – now the heroic rat Magawa has died
Minesweeper rat Magawa received gold medal from British animal rights organization People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 2020
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The rat Magawa tracked down more than a hundred explosive devices in Cambodia. For this she received the highest award an animal can get. Now Magawa has died.
Land mines are a major threat to the population in many war zones. In a mined area, one wrong step can mean maiming or even death. After armed conflicts, it often takes a long time for the landscape to be cleared of mines. The rat Magawa contributed significantly to the fact that this was at least partially successful in Cambodia.
The animal was trained by the Belgian NGO Apopo to sniff out land mines. These could then be defused by experts. Magawa discovered more than a hundred landmines and other booby traps within five years. This makes her the most successful minesweeper rat in the organization and has even received an award for her work. Now the giant hamster rat has died at the age of eight, announced Apopo.
Heroic service in Cambodia
Magawa “died peacefully” over the weekend, the NGO announced, and again paid tribute to the rat: “His contribution allows communities to live, work and play in Cambodia without the fear of losing limbs or life . ” After two civil wars, Cambodia is considered to be one of the most heavily landmine-contaminated countries in the world. It is estimated that there are still two million explosive devices buried there.
Rats are good at identifying landmines when trained to do so. With their low weight, they are too light to trigger the mine by yourself. They also work extremely quickly: at his best, Magawa was able to search an area the size of a tennis court in just 20 minutes.
Highest award for animals
For his services, Magawa received the gold medal of the British animal rights organization People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 2020. It is the highest distinction that can be bestowed on an animal. The rat was active as a mine sweeper for a total of five years and retired in June of last year. Magawa will “leave a lasting legacy in the lives he saved in Cambodia,” said Apopo on the occasion of the animal’s death.
Sources: Apopo ‘Hero Rats on Facebook / BBC