Cambodia has erected a statue to commemorate Magawa, the giant African mouse celebrated for his remarkable olfactory skills and life-saving work. The memorial was unveiled in Siem Reap on April 3, 2026.
Over five years of dedicated service as HeroRAT, Magawa recovered more than 100 land mines and unexploded ordnance, clearing more than 141,000 square meters of land. His training allowed him to ignore scrap metal and focus only on the faint smells of explosives, resulting in land mine clearance that was safer and faster than traditional methods.By erecting a sandstone statue of Magawa in Siem Reap, Cambodia honors animal intelligence and humanitarian efforts to remove land mines from the landscape.
The story of this small rodent is a testament to the innovative ways in which non-technical methods of mine clearance have helped restore safe living conditions to communities suffering from conflict and war.
Record-breaking career of Cambodian landmine-sniffing rat Magawa
Siem Reap has erected a permanent sandstone monument to commemorate Magawa, whose unparalleled contribution to humanitarian mine clearance made him a true hero in the eyes of the community. Trained as a HeroRAT by an established organisation, APOPO, 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 returning land equivalent to 20 football fields to the community.
Why did Magawa ignore scrap metal?
Magawa’s operational efficiency over time was astonishing. It can disinfect an area the size of a tennis court in less than 20 minutes (compared to a human using a metal detector which typically takes 4 days to accomplish the same task). Cricetomys ansorgei (African giant preserved rat) was selected for mine detection because it has specific physiological and behavioral characteristics that have been identified through veterinary research studies.
Scientific studies confirm that these mice possess a highly sensitive olfactory system capable of detecting minute concentrations of explosive vapor, allowing them to ignore scrap metal and indicate only the presence of TNT. Their low body mass enables them to safely pass pressure-activated landmines without triggering pressure-sensitive detonators, allowing them to pass directly through ground that would kill a human deminer or a larger detection animal such as a dog.
Why is biological detection the fastest path to safety?
Magawa’s action was a humanitarian effort that complied with an extensive list of regulations contained in the global safety protocols of the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). IMAS integrates animal detection systems into technical surveys so that authorities can return land to communities for agriculture and housing with a high level of confidence.Because these mice are trained to smell explosives, they generate fewer false alarms compared to traditional sensors.
This, in turn, accelerates the land reclamation process for families displaced by the conflict.
The first mouse to receive this honor from PDSA
Magawa’s contributions were recognized around the world in 2020, a pivotal moment for animal detection systems in international security. He made history as the first mouse, at the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 77 years, to be awarded a Gold Medal – an accolade similar to the George Cross for Animals.
