Landmine-detecting hero rat Magawa dies after career saving lives

A hero rat who was commended for his outstanding service detecting landmines has died.

Magawa, a giant African pouched rat trained to find unexploded ordnance, was retired last year.

The 'HeroRAT' had discovered dozens of landmines in Cambodia since he was trained by charity APOPO, and was awarded a miniature PDSA Gold Medal  – the animal equivalent of the George Cross – in 2020.

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He was among the most successful rats ever trained by the charity, and was the first rat in its 77-year history to receive the PDSA accolade.