A rat has for the first time won a British charity's top civilian award for animal bravery, receiving the honor for searching out unexploded landmines in Cambodia. Magawa, a giant African pouched rat, was awarded the PDSA’s Gold Medal for his "lifesaving bravery and devotion” after discovering
LONDON — A rat has for the first time won a British charity's top civilian award for animal bravery, receiving the honor for searching out unexploded landmines in Cambodia.
Magawa was trained by a Belgian organization that has taught rats to find landmines for more than 20 years. The group, APOPO, works with programs in Cambodia, Angola, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to clear millions of mines left behind from wars and conflicts. “But also it is big for the people in Cambodia, and all the people around the world who are suffering from landmines,’’ Cox said. “The PDSA Gold Medal award brings the problem of landmines to global attention.”
Their size allows the rats to walk across mine fields without triggering the explosives - and do it much more quickly than people.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trucking giant Schneider hikes driver pay amid hiring battle - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Read more »
Founder of bottled water giant Nongfu Spring becomes China's richest manSteady gains in the public offerings of two Chinese stocks this year have vaulted their controlling stakeholder to the top of China's rich list.
Read more »
Japanese giant Gundam robot shows off its movesA giant robot based on a character from a classic anime series has undergone testing in the Japanese city of Yokohama.
Read more »
Family BBQ in Australia Crashed and 'Swarmed' by Dozens of Giant Robber CrabsOne onlooker said her son counted 52 robber crabs — also known as coconut crabs — trying to steal the family's food
Read more »
Harrington moves giant tree branch to play shot at Irish OpenGolfers can remove loose impediments without penalty under the rules of the game and while they usually take the form of twigs and stones, Padraig Harrington found himself heaving a huge tree branch out of the way to get to his ball at the Irish Open.
Read more »
If You Happen to Be on the Market For a Giant Unicorn Skeleton, This Inflatable One Lights UpShop this ridiculous inflatable unicorn skeleton for $40 on Amazon.
Read more »