– credit, PDSA released
Cambodian artists and authorities have unveiled the statue of a four-footed hero to the nation, never to be forgotten.
During his remarkable life and career, Magawa the African giant pouched rat used his incredible sense of smell to locate 100 landmines and unexploded bombs before they were able to hurt anyone.
Because of his aptitude, exceptional even among minesweeping rats, (more on that later) there are 1,5 million square feet of space, equivalent to 20 English footfall fields, safe for farming and living once again.
A UK veterinarian’s charity PDSA awarded Magawa its ‘Medal of Gallantry’ in 2020 for his incredible work over a 5-year career that started in Africa in 2016.
The statue of the beloved ‘Hero Rat’ carved from local stone by artists was unveiled in Siem Reap on April 4th, International Day for Mine Awareness.
As GNN has reported before, one of the world’s great underreported tragedies is how much of the Earth is covered in landmines and unexploded bombs and shells from past conflicts.
Removing productive farmland from use, lying dormant with the potential to kill and maim for decades after being embedded in the ground, their deadly, indiscriminate effects are most often felt among children, who see strange metal objects among the grass and mistake them for toys.
Trained to sniff landmines by a Belgian NGO called APOPO, the Hero Rats were first deployed to Mozambique, the first nation since the 20th century began to be declared mine-free.
Over the course of APOPO’s work the rats it employs (and pampers) have safely located over 106,000 mines. Even though they’re one of the world’s largest rats, they are too small to trigger the detonation of mines, and are therefore safter than humans and dogs.
An APOPO Hero Rat like Magawa can search the area of a tennis court in 30 minutes—something that would take a human with a metal detector up to four days to achieve.
Dr. Ly Tuch, First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, pulled the curtain off the statue, and gave a speech that wouldn’t be out of place on in a Medal of Honor ceremony.
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“Before us stands Magawa—a small creature, yet one who changed the ground beneath our feet,” the translated speech read. “For years, Cambodia lived with land that could not be trusted. Fields held danger. Paths carried uncertainty. Families measured every step.”
“But Magawa moved through that same land with calm precision. Where others saw risk, he found what was hidden. Where fear remained, he helped restore confidence. More than 100 landmines and explosive remnants were cleared through his work.”
MINESWEEPING:
“Each detection meant a space returned to life. Each cleared area meant children walking safely, farmers working freely, communities rebuilding without hesitation. This is the true meaning of mine action. It is about restoring normal life. It is about dignity. It is about giving people back their future.”
“The statue we unveil today carries more than form. It carries a message — that even the smallest actor can leave a lasting impact.”
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