After five years in action once morest landmines, the Cambodian “hero rat” Magawa “fell asleep peacefully”. The Belgian aid organization Apopo, which had trained the animal, announced on Wednesday. Until shortly before his death “at the old age of eight”, Magawa, who found more than 100 land mines and other explosive devices, was healthy and full of energy.
Impressive skills
Detection rats can track mines much faster than a metal detector and, unlike human search forces, do not trigger them because of their low weight. According to Apopo, there are currently 96 rats around the world helping to find explosives before they injure or kill people.
