A Cambodian rat has been honored with an award for his efforts to clear the nation of its land mines.
The 5-year-old giant pouched rat named Magawa was given a gold medal by a British charity called People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.
Clocking in at over 2 feet long, Magawa has been trained to sniff out TNT, which has allowed him to discover 39 land mines and 28 pieces of unexploded ordnance over the course of his life. He’s cleared 1.5 million square feet of land, a much-needed resource for local groups.
He works for the “Hero Rat” initiative and is the most successful rat in the program.
Millions of land mines are estimated to have been planted in Cambodia during past conflicts. Since 1979, 64,000 people have been injured by land mines in the country.
“Magawa’s work directly saves and changes the lives of men, women, and children who are impacted by these land mines,” Jan McLoughlin, the director-general of the dispensary, told the New York Times. “Every discovery he makes reduces the risk of injury or death for local people.”
“I hear he’s partial to bananas and peanuts,” said Emily Malcolm, a spokeswoman for the dispensary. “So, I’m sure he will be getting a few extra treats.”
