Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction: Ratting Out Landmines

Rat called Magawa awarded prestigious gold medal for Cambodia landmine detection

Sept. 25, 2020, 9:50 AM EDT

By Adela Suliman

LONDON — They get a bad rep, especially for being dirty.

But one rat redeemed his species on Friday becoming the first rodent to receive a gold medal for his work in sniffing out unexploded landmines and saving countless lives in Cambodia.

Magawa, a so-called "hero rat" was presented with a small blue collar and mini-gold medal by the British veterinary charity the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) on Friday.

"Magawa's work directly saves and changes the lives of men, women and children who are impacted by these landmines. Every discovery he makes reduces the risk of injury or death for local people," PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin, said in a statement.

"We are thrilled to award him the PDSA Gold Medal."

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