Arabic version: كمبوديا تكرم الجرذ البطل الذي يكشف الألغام بتمثال

Cambodia has unveiled a statue dedicated to Magawa, a renowned landmine-sniffing rat who was awarded a gold medal for his bravery. This unique tribute marks the world’s first statue honoring a landmine-detecting rat, recognizing Magawa’s significant contributions during his five-year career that began in 2016.

The statue, crafted from local stone by artists, was revealed in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Friday, in time for the International Day for Mine Awareness on 4 April. According to BBC News, landmines continue to pose a serious threat in Cambodia, where over a million people live and work on land contaminated by explosives.

Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, was trained by the Belgian charity Apopo. He successfully detected more than 100 landmines and other explosives, clearing over 141,000 square meters of land, which is roughly equivalent to 20 football pitches. His ability to search a tennis court-sized area in just 20 minutes showcased his exceptional skills.

In 2020, he received the PDSA Gold Medal, often referred to as the George Cross for animals, making him the first rat in the organization’s 77-year history to achieve this honor. Following his retirement due to age-related decline, Magawa passed away in 2022.

Michael Raine, Apopo’s Cambodia Programme Manager, stated that the statue serves as a reminder to the international community of the ongoing efforts needed to address the landmine crisis in Cambodia, which aims to be mine-free by 2030. Apopo has been utilizing trained rodents, known as HeroRATS, since the 1990s for various tasks, including detecting tuberculosis and combating illegal wildlife trafficking.