Meet Magawa: The Medal-Winning HeroRat

A special rat named Magawa earned a tiny gold medal for his amazing work in Cambodia. For five years, this brave animal helped find dangerous landmines left behind from old wars.

Trained for an Important Mission

Magawa wasn't just any rat. He was an African giant pouched rat trained by APOPO, a nonprofit group. These rats are very smart and love mental challenges. They can smell the explosives in landmines while ignoring harmless metal scraps. This makes them much better at the job than many other methods.

During his working years, Magawa found 71 landmines and 38 other dangerous items. His work made more than 56 acres of land safe again. Now people can use this land for farming, building homes, and playing without danger.

Making History with a Gold Medal

In 2020, something special happened. Magawa became the first rat ever to receive the PDSA Gold Medal. This important award honors brave animals who help others. Before Magawa, only dogs and horses had earned this medal.

A Happy Life and Well-Earned Retirement

While working, Magawa lived with other rat friends in a special place with lots to do. He got weekly checkups to make sure he stayed happy and healthy.

APOPO lets all their HeroRats retire whenever they want to stop working. In 2021, Magawa decided he liked napping better than finding mines. He chose to retire and spend his days relaxing with friends, enjoying his favorite treats - bananas and peanuts.

The Legacy Continues

Today, new HeroRats carry on Magawa's important work. These amazing animals don't just find landmines. They also help detect tuberculosis and can locate people trapped after disasters.

Magawa's story shows how even small animals can make a big difference in keeping people safe. His work helped protect countless lives in Cambodia and changed how we think about these smart, helpful rats.