• Menu
  • Menu
  • News
  • Subscribe
  • Logout
Trending
UAE holidays 2021 Coronavirus Special Reports Now talk to your writer to create your CV Travel
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
      • Young Editors
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health
      • Better Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Reader Complaint
    • Ask the Law
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
  • Gulf
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Company Releases
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
    • Mena
    • Europe
      • Brexit
    • Africa
    • Americas
      • US Presidential Elections 2020
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Court and Crime
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • Cartoons
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • ICC
    • Football
    • Motorsport
    • Tennis
      • Dubai Duty Free Tennis 2020
    • Golf
    • Rugby
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • Pinoy Celebs
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Going Out
    • Movie Reviews
    • Society
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
      • Beating Breast Cancer
    • Family
    • Community
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • #Pinoy
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Weekend Review
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
      • Gitex Shopper
    • Gaming
    • Trends
    • Fin-Tech
    • Media
  • How To
    • Employment
      • Jobs
    • Passports & Visas
    • Your Money
    • Legal
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • #Pinoy
    • Community
    • Travel
    • Technology
  • GN Focus
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Hotels
  • Gold-Forex
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
    • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    Landmine detection rat wins top UK animal bravery award

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Thursday, January 21, 2021
    Gold / Forex

    Photos News

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    Landmine detection rat wins top UK animal bravery award

    Magawa has sniffed out 39 landmines and 28 items of unexploded ordnance

    Published:  September 25, 2020 14:43 Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor
    1 of 8
    HeroRat Magawa
    London: Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. A five-year-old giant African pouched rat called Magawa, however, has to be one of the world's most unlikely life-savers. The rodent has won the animal equivalent of Britain's highest civilian honour for bravery because of his uncanny knack of sniffing out landmines and unexploded ordnance. Image Credit: AFP
    2 of 8
    HeroRat Magawa
    British veterinary charity the PDSA on Friday awarded Magawa its Gold Medal "for his life-saving bravery and devotion to duty", which had transformed the lives of people in Cambodia. Magawa, who was trained by the Belgian charity APOPO, has sniffed out 39 landmines and 28 items of unexploded ordnance, making him the organisation's most successful "HeroRAT". Image Credit: AFP
    3 of 8
    HeroRat Magawa
    "The work of HeroRAT Magawa and APOPO is truly unique and outstanding," said PDSA director-general Jan McLoughlin. "HeroRAT Magawa's work directly saves and changes the lives of men, women and children who are impacted by these landmines." Image Credit: AFP
    4 of 8
    HeroRat Magawa
    Millions of landmines were laid in Cambodia between 1975 and 1998, causing tens of thousands of casualties. Magawa, based in the northern city of Siem Reap, is the first rat to receive a PDSA medal in the 77 years of the awards, joining an illustrious band of brave canines and felines - and even a pigeon. Image Credit: AFP
    5 of 8
    HeroRat Magawa
    The PDSA Gold Medal is the animal equivalent of Britain's George Cross. The charity also awards the Dickin Medal, for military animals. APOPO trained Magawa in his native Tanzania to detect the chemical compound within explosives by rewarding him with tasty treats - his favourite being bananas and peanuts. The rats alert de-miners by scratching the earth. Image Credit: AFP
    6 of 8
    HeroRat Magawa
    He can scurry across an area the size of a tennis court in just 30 minutes, something that would take four days using a conventional metal detector. He is big enough to be attached to a leash as he goes about his business but light enough not to set off mines. Image Credit: AFP
    7 of 8
    HeroRat Magawa
    "The PDSA Gold Medal award brings the problem of landmines to global attention," said Christophe Cox of APOPO. Cox said its team of "HeroRATs" speeded up landmine detection because of their keen sense of smell and recall. Image Credit: AFP
    8 of 8
    HeroRat Magawa
    "Unlike metal detectors, the rats ignore scrap metal and only sniff out explosives making them fast and efficient landmine detectors," Cox said. "This not only saves lives but returns much-needed safe land back to the communities as quickly and cost-effectively as possible." APOPO currently has 45 rats finding landmines and 31 detecting tuberculosis in Africa and Asia, according to its website. Image Credit: AFP

    Trending

    • A day in the life of DHA’s COVID -19 vaccination centre

      A day in the life of DHA’s COVID -19 vaccination centre

    • In photos: 9 things to know about Al Fahidi Fort

      In photos: 9 things to know about Al Fahidi Fort

    • Readers' photos: Fog in UAE

      Readers' photos: Fog in UAE

    • Biden inauguration: How the star-studded event will go

      Biden inauguration: How the star-studded event will go

    • Bollywood star kids who didn’t go into acting

      Bollywood star kids who didn’t go into acting

    • See Sheikh Hamdan's spectacular photos of a foggy Dubai

      See Sheikh Hamdan's spectacular photos of a foggy Dubai

    Latest In

    • Online learning for 2 weeks in Sharjah private schools

      31 minutes ago

    • UAE: Bad credit card habits one must avoid

      31 minutes ago

    • Actor Danny Masterson pleads not guilty to rape charges

      33 minutes ago

    • Meghan Markle case: Ex-royal staff will weigh in

      36 minutes ago

    • Cash crunch? Ideas to make some extra money in the UAE

      40 minutes ago
    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Baby & Child
    • Friday
    • Inside Out
    • Watch Time
    • Wheels
    • getthat
    • GN Tech
    • Jobs
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or