Cambodia held a ceremony to unveil a monument dedicated to 'Magawa,' the landmine-detecting rat, honoring its detection of over 100 landmines and the restoration of safe land for local residents and farmers on the occasion of International Mine Awareness Day, observed annually on 4 April.
In Siem Reap, Cambodia, a statue of 'Magawa,' the landmine-detecting rat, was unveiled to honor its bravery following its death in 2022. The event was attended by representatives from the Cambodian government, the Belgian charity APOPO, and local students.
'Magawa' is an African giant pouched rat trained by the Belgian charity APOPO. It began its mission in Cambodia from 2016 to 2020. Over five years, Magawa detected more than 100 landmines and unexploded ordnance, clearing over 141,000 square meters—equivalent to 20 football fields.
Lee Thach, the first vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA), said, "Magawa restored lost confidence among Cambodians, allowing children to play safely and farmers to cultivate their land without fear."
Thanks to its precise chemical scent detection, Magawa can search an area the size of a tennis court in just 20 minutes—much faster than a human. Its light weight allows it to walk on landmines without triggering them. This remarkable achievement made Magawa the first rat in history to receive the PDSA Gold Medal in 2020.
The monument unveiling coincided with the International Day for Mine Awareness under the theme "Investing in Peace, Investing in Mine Action." Cambodia, led by Prime Minister Hun Manet, has set an ambitious goal to make the country completely landmine-free by 2030.
Currently, APOPO continues training "HeroRATS," which beyond mine detection, can rapidly identify tuberculosis infections faster than laboratories and are also trained to help prevent illegal wildlife trafficking in Tanzania.
. . .Khmer Times/BBC