gold Medalist Magawa
Magawa was APOPO's most successful HeroRAT. During his illustrious 5 year career, Magawa’s worked directly saving lives of men, women and children who were impacted by hidden landmines and other deadly remnants of war in Cambodia.
In September 2020, veteran Magawa was formally presented with a suitably rat-sized PDSA Gold Medal – the animal equivalent of the George Cross – by the UK's leading vet charity. He is the first rat in the charity’s 77-year history of honoring animals to receive a PDSA Medal – joining a line-up of brave dogs, horses, pigeons and a cat.
APOPO announced Magawa's retirement in June 2021. He turned 8 in November 2020 which is very elderly for this species; and sadly died peacefully in his sleep in January 2022 of old age.
