Following five years of service detecting landmines in Cambodia, an African giant pouched rat named Magawa is retiring from his job and will enjoy a well-earned retirement eating bananas and peanuts, his employers told AFP.
Magawa, originally from Tanzania, was trained by Belgian charity, APOPO which says the rodent helped clear mines from 225,000 square metres of land in his five-year career, the equivalent of 42 football pitches.
However, after detecting 71 landmines and 38 items of unexploded ordnance “he is getting a bit tired.The best thing to do is to retire him”, Michael Heiman, the charity’s programme manager in Cambodia, told AFP on Saturday.
Millions of landmines were laid in Cambodia between 1975 and 1998, causing tens of thousands of casualties.
APOPO trained Magawa in his native Tanzania to detect the chemical compound within explosives by rewarding him with tasty treats — his favourites being bananas and peanuts. He alerts de-miners by scratching the earth.
Magawa can scurry across an area the size of a tennis court in just 30 minutes, something that would take four days using a conventional metal detector.
He is big enough to be attached to a leash as he goes about his business but light enough not to set off mines.
His handler, Malen, told the BBC;
He is small but he has helped save many lives allowing us to return much-needed safe land back to our people as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. Magawa’s performance has been unbeaten, and I have been proud to work side-by-side with him.
As he enters his sunset years, however, Malen says he is “slowing down.” By relieving him of his work responsibilities, she hopes to “respect his needs.”
In his autumn years, Magawa will spend more time doing what he loves, says Heiman — eating bananas and peanuts.
In September 2020, the rodent won the animal equivalent of Britain’s highest civilian honour for bravery because of his uncanny knack for uncovering landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Magawa was the first rat to receive a PDSA medal in the 77 years of the awards, joining an illustrious band of brave canines and felines — and even a pigeon.
The group says 20 newly trained rats that recently arrived in Cambodia have just received their accreditation from the authorities to start landmine detection work.
But it will be a tough challenge following in Magawa’s footsteps.
Heiman said;
Magawa is a very exceptional rat. Obviously we are going to miss him in operations.
Although retirement is now imminent for Magawa, he is staying on for a few more weeks to “mentor” the new rodent recruits and assist in their transition to the gig.
The job involves discerning explosives from scrap metal, which contains similar chemical compounds. The rats scratch the top of the explosive once they locate it.
Via AFP.
