Cambodia has erected a statue to commemorate Magava, the African giant pouched rat famous for its remarkable olfactory skills and life-saving work. The memorial was unveiled in Siem Reap on April 3, 2026. During five years of dedicated service as HeroRAT, Magawa detected more than 100 landmines and unexploded ordnance and cleared more than 141,000 square meters of land. Their training allowed them to ignore the scrap metal and focus only on the faint smell of explosives, resulting in landmine clearance that was safer and quicker than traditional methods.By erecting a sandstone statue of Magwa in Siem Reap, Cambodia is honoring both animal intelligence and the human effort to remove landmines from the landscape. The story of this small rodent is testament to the innovative ways in which non-technical methods of mining have helped restore safe living conditions to communities affected by conflict and war.
The record-breaking career of Cambodia’s landmine-sniffing rat Magwa
Siem Reap has erected a permanent sandstone monument to the memory of Magwa, whose unique contribution to humanitarian devastation makes him a true hero in the eyes of the community. Trained as a HERORAT by APOPO, a permanent organization, Magawa was the most accomplished HERORAT in APOPO’s history, successfully identifying 71 landmines and 38 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) during his tenure, while releasing land equivalent to 20 football fields back to the community.
Why might Magawa ignore scrap metal?
Magawa’s operational efficiency over time was unprecedented; It can clear an area the size of a tennis court in as little as 20 minutes (compared to a human using a metal detector who typically takes 4 days to complete the same task). Chrysetomys ansorgei (African giant pouched rat) was chosen to detect mines due to the presence of specific physiological and behavioral characteristics identified through veterinary research studies. Scientific studies confirm that these rats have a highly sensitive olfactory system capable of detecting minute concentrations of explosive vapor, allowing them to ignore scrap metal and simply detect the presence of TNT. Their low body mass enables them to safely cross pressure-activated landmines without triggering the pressure-sensitive detonators, allowing them to make straight land crossings that would kill either a human deminer or a large detection animal such as a dog.
Why is biological identification the fastest path to security?
Magawa’s work was a humanitarian effort that complied with an extensive list of rules from the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) global safety protocol. IMAS integrates animal detection systems into technical surveys so that officials can return land to communities for agriculture and habitation with a high level of confidence.Because these rats are trained to smell explosives, they produce fewer false alarms than traditional sensors. This, in turn, accelerates the entire process of reclaiming land for families displaced by the conflict.
The first rat to receive this honor from PDSA
Magawa’s contributions were acknowledged worldwide in 2020, marking a watershed moment for animal detection systems in international security. He made history as the first rat in the 77-year existence of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) to be awarded a gold medal – an honor similar to the George Cross for animals.