A unique monument has been officially unveiled in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Carved from local stone, the statue honors 'Magawa,' an African giant pouched rat. He is the first landmine-detecting rat to be immortalized with a statue, a tribute to his extraordinary service in clearing lethal explosive threats.
Magawa was trained by the Belgian charity Apopo. He began his demining career in Cambodia in 2016, using his keen sense of smell to locate buried explosives and alert his human handlers. Over his five-year career, Magawa cleared more than 100 landmines and unexploded ordnance, sanitizing over 141,000 square meters of land.
An Extraordinary Animal Hero
In 2020, Magawa was awarded the PDSA Gold Medal—the animal equivalent of the George Cross—for his 'life-saving devotion to duty.' In the charity's 77-year history, Magawa was the first rodent to receive the prestigious honor.
Because of his small size, Magawa could walk over landmines without triggering them, making him a safer alternative to human deminers. Michael Raine, program manager for Apopo in Cambodia, noted that the monument is not only a tribute to Magawa but also a reminder to the international community that 'there is still work to be done.' He emphasized that Cambodia remains committed to its goal of becoming mine-free by 2030.
Magawa passed away in 2022 at the age of eight. Even after his retirement, the demining mission continued. Another trained rat named Ronin set a new record in 2025, having detected 109 landmines and 15 pieces of unexploded ordnance since 2021, surpassing the record previously held by Magawa.
According to United Nations statistics, landmines remain a severe threat in Cambodia, with over a million people living on land contaminated by mines or unexploded ordnance. Beyond demining, these 'hero rats' are also being trained to detect tuberculosis and combat the illegal wildlife trade, demonstrating their immense potential across various fields.
