[ad_1]
A landmine detection rat has been awarded a gold medal for displaying “courage to save lives and devotion to duty.”
The African giant pouch rat, named Magawa, has discovered 39 landmines and 28 unexploded ordnance in Cambodia.
Magawa has cleared more than 141,000 square meters of land, an effort that has earned him a PDSA gold medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross.
Amy Dickin, awards and heritage manager for the PSDA, told Sky News: “She will definitely enjoy a watermelon or two on the weekend, I think it’s her weekend gift. shift, so I’m sure he will return to work fulfilling his life-saving duties and we are immensely proud. “
African giant rat discovered 39 landmines
It was trained by APOPO, which trains rats to detect landmines and tuberculosis, and is the first rat in the charity’s 77-year history to receive such an honor.
Christophe Cox, APOPO executive director, said the Magawa medal was “an honor” for the charity and its animal trainers.
He also said the award will draw world attention to Cambodia and other countries where landmines continue to injure and kill people.
An estimated four to six million landmines were laid in Cambodia between 1975 and 1998, causing more than 64,000 casualties.
Rats are good at detecting these mines because of their intelligence and their willingness to perform repetitive tasks for food, Cox said.
Their small size means they are less dangerous in a land mine field and are faster than alternatives like a metal detector.
Magawa, for example, can search an area as large as a tennis court in just 30 minutes, while a human with a metal detector would take up to four days to cover the same area.
Landmine Detection Rate Nears Retirement
APOPO trains the rats for a year and they work for about half an hour a day, usually early in the morning.
Once the rats find a landmine, they tell their human handlers by scratching the top.
Jan McLoughlin, CEO of PDSA, said the work done by Magawa and APOPO was “truly unique and exceptional.”
He added: “Magawa’s work saves and directly changes the lives of men, women and children affected by these landmines. Every discovery he makes reduces the risk of injury or death to the local population.
“The PDSA Animal Awards program seeks to raise the status of animals in society and honor the incredible contribution they make to our lives.
“Magawa’s dedication, skill and bravery are an extraordinary example of this and deserve the highest possible recognition. We are delighted to award him the PDSA gold medal.”
[ad_2]