Magawa, a African giant pouched rat who received the distinguished PDSA gold medal for his actions in detecting over 100 land mines and other unexploded ordnance in Cambodia, passed away this weekend at the age of eight. Magawa was part of the “HeroRAT” program run by the Belgian nonprofit APOPO and his land mine sniffing record made him the most successful rat of the initiative. People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) released 
a statement saying “He was a truly exemplary HeroRAT and a very worthy recipient of our PDSA Gold Medal, which recognizes civilian animals who have shown true bravery and exceptional devotion to duty. His legacy will live on for decades to come, in the lives he has helped to save through his incredible work detecting land mines in Cambodia.”
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