Giant Rat Wins Animal Hero Award for Sniffing Out Landmines in Cambodia

Magawa, the Cambodian landmine detection rat, wearing his PDSA Gold Medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross, in Siem, Cambodia. A British animal charity has on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, for the first time awarded its top civilian honor to a rat, recognizing the rodent for his "lifesaving bravery and devotion” in searching out unexploded landmines in Cambodia. PDSA via AP

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, a giant African pouched rat, was awarded the PDSA’s Gold Medal for his “lifesaving bravery and devotion” after discovering 39 landmines and 28 items of unexploded ordinance in the past seven years, according to the charity.