Magawa, 'hero rat' who sniffed out 71 land mines with his tiny nose, dies in retirement

[sinkingfeeling]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/12/magawa-african-landmine-rat-dies-cambodia/

The explosives-sniffing African giant pouched rat Magawa — holder of a Guinness World Record for the most land mines detected by that species — died in retirement over the weekend. He was 8 years old.

Apopo, the nonprofit that trained the rat, said Magawa had detected 71 land mines and 38 items of unexploded ordnance as of June, when he retired. In September 2020, Magawa was awarded a gold medal for bravery from a British charity — an honor that had previously gone only to dogs.

Magawa celebrated his eighth birthday in November and spent most of his last week in his “usual enthusiasm,” Apopo said in a statement. He slowed down, napped more and showed less interest in eating toward last weekend before dying “peacefully,” the group added.

African giant pouched rats like Magawa, which are much lighter than the roughly 11 pounds required to trigger land mines, are adroit in the minefields and can pick up on the scent of chemical compounds inside these devices

[Probatim]

1. There aren't any bomb sniffing cats out there.

Which is why, if I'm ever reincarnated, I'd rather be a cat than a dog (and now a rat).