Magawa’s Retirement Party in Cambodia

During his illustrious five-year career, HeroRAT Magawa’s work directly saved the lives of men, women and children who were impacted by hidden landmines and other deadly remnants of war. Every discovery he made reduced the risk of injury or death for the people of Cambodia. Magawa is an African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys ansorgei) that was born in Tanzania in November 2013. This is where he learned how to find explosives using his amazing sense of smell at APOPO’s Training and Innovation center. Magawa then moved to Siem Reap in Cambodia in 2016, where he began his successful career. In September 2020, veteran Magawa was formally presented with a rat-sized PDSA Gold Medal – the animal equivalent of the George Cross – by the PDSA. He is the first rat in the charity’s 77-year history of honouring animals to receive a PDSA Medal – joining a line-up of brave dogs, horses, pigeons and a cat. More info: