Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, died January 8 at age 8. For five years, he worked with Tanzania-based international charity APOPO, sniffing out landmines in Cambodia. Magawa was responsible for finding over 100 landmines and had retired six months ago.
Magawa was one of hundreds of “hero rats” that have been trained since the 1990s by APOPO to detect landmines. In 30 minutes, these rats can scan swathes of land as big as tennis courts for any presence of explosive chemicals. A human being with a metal detector will take four days to do the same job. While other animals can be trained to detect mines, APOPO found rats best suited for the job due to their small size—weighing less than three pounds, they are too light to set off the landmines.
For his work, he was given a gold medal by the British veterinary charity People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 2020—the highest civilian award an animal can receive, and the first time a rat received such an honor. PDSA said that at the time, he was able to make 35 acres of land safe and livable for Cambodians.
In an interview with ANN (Animal News Network) shortly after receiving his medal, Magawa took the attention and tributes with typical rat modesty. "It's a pretty good gig" he declared. "I get a tasty bite of banana when I find a mine. I am not overworked, I have safe quarters free from predators and get to hang out with other pouchies (rat colloquialism for his species). My mum would be pretty proud." Magawa, when asked by the ANN reporter if he felt like he was a "Lassie" because he was helping out humans, rolled his eyes and became a bit agitated. "I'm not traitor to my kind and I'll bite the scrotum off any bastard who says that I am." The term "Lassie" refers to the ever faithful Collie dog on an American TV show who continuously saved it's human family from a variety of dangers. Recently, militant animal rights organizations such as The League, use the term as a pejorative labeling those viewed to be too servile in their relationships with humans.
Inter-species politics aside, good on you, mate.
A "Lassie," lol.
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