""Magawa was one of the best rats we've ever had," said Michael Raine, a program manager in Cambodia for Apopo - a Belgium-based nonprofit that trains animals to detect land mines. "Magawa was calm and focused ... he was gentle and friendly with his handlers. He just had the perfect temperament.""
""He was curious, very composed and quick at work," Raine said. "He knew his job.""
""They're so light they wouldn't trigger a land mine," Raine said. Plus, "they have an extremely sensitive sense of smell and they are quite intelligent.""
Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, detected over 100 land mines during his five-year career, significantly contributing to safety in Cambodia. A statue was unveiled in his honor after his death in 2022. Trained by Apopo, Magawa was known for his calm demeanor and effectiveness, able to search a tennis court-sized area in about 20 minutes. His training involved positive reinforcement to identify explosives, making him an invaluable asset in a country with a high concentration of land mines.
Read at The Washington Post
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