39 Landmines Found and 28 Unexploded Bombs
Turning 7 This Year, Soon to Retire
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Magawa, a rat that has been performing landmine detection work in hazardous areas such as Cambodia for several years, has been recognized as a brave animal.
On the 25th (local time), BBC and other broadcasters reported that Magawa received a gold medal from the UK animal welfare organization PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) for saving lives by detecting landmines in Cambodia.
The medal is inscribed with the phrase "For animals that have shown bravery or devotion in their duties."
So far, 30 animals have received this medal, and Magawa is the first rat to be awarded.
Magawa weighs 1.2 kg and measures 70 cm, which is large for a rodent but small and light enough not to trigger landmines when stepped on.
Magawa was born in eastern Tanzania, Africa, and received landmine detection training from the Belgian NGO Apopo.
Apopo trains African pouched rats like Magawa for one year to detect landmines and tuberculosis and certifies them.
They also train the rats to detect compounds found in landmine explosives.
Christophe Cox, Apopo's secretary-general, explained that "rats are intelligent and adept at repetitive tasks," which enables them to detect landmines effectively.
Landmine detection rats can filter out metals such as scrap iron or cans and scratch the area where they detect compounds to alert humans.
Magawa can search an area the size of a tennis court in just 20 minutes, whereas it would take a person 1 to 4 days.
Having found 39 landmines and 28 unexploded ordnances over an area of more than 141,000 square meters, Magawa is now 7 years old and approaching retirement.
These days, Magawa performs landmine removal operations for about 30 minutes a day.
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