Requiem for a Hero Rat

Magawa, the African giant pouched rat trained to detect explosives, has passed. Magawa was raised and trained by APOPO, the Belgian nonprofit that works in Southeast Asia and Africa to clear landmines.

Magawa found more than 100 landmines and other unexploded ordnance in Cambodia, and was honored in 2020 with a gold medal by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, an award usually given to humans for heroism. Magawa retired from his heroic job last fall.

“Magawa was in good health and spent most of last week playing with his usual enthusiasm,” APOPO said in a statement. “But towards the weekend he started to slow down, napping more and showing less interest in food in his last days. Magawa had recently celebrated his birthday in November, reaching the grand old age of 8.”

Thank you for your service, sir. You’re clearing landmines in heaven now.

Photo credit: APOPO