Cambodia Unveils Statue Honouring Famed Landmine-Sniffing Rat, Magawa
A unique statue has been unveiled in Siem Reap, Cambodia, honouring Magawa, the celebrated landmine-sniffing rat. This marks the world's first monument dedicated to a mine-detecting rodent, coinciding with International Day for Mine Awareness.
Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, was instrumental in clearing more than 100 landmines and other unexploded ordnance during his distinguished five-year career, which began in 2016. Trained by the Belgian charity Apopo, his acute sense of smell allowed him to detect explosive compounds, enabling human handlers to safely remove the threats. He single-handedly cleared over 141,000 square metres of land, equivalent to 20 football pitches.
In recognition of his 'life-saving devotion to duty', Magawa was awarded the PDSA Gold Medal in 2020 – often referred to as the George Cross for animals. He was the first rat in the charity's 77-year history to receive such an honour. Magawa passed away in 2022 after a short retirement.
The commemorative statue, carved from local stone, serves as a poignant reminder that Cambodia continues to grapple with the pervasive threat of landmines. Michael Raine, Apopo's Cambodia Programme Manager, emphasised the monument's role in reminding the international community of the ongoing work required to achieve Cambodia's 2030 target of becoming mine-free.
Apopo's 'HeroRATS' are valued for their light weight, preventing detonation of mines, and their efficiency. Another Apopo-trained rat, Ronin, recently surpassed Magawa's record, uncovering 109 landmines and 15 items of unexploded ordnance since 2021.
