The people's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA, has awarded Magawa, an African giant pouched rat their gold medal for "life-saving devotion to duty."
Apparently the rat, trained by the Belgium-registered charity Apopothe, detected 39 landmines and 28 unexploded ordnance and other munitions during his career in Cambodia. He's the first rat to receive the award, which, the PDSA website describes as "Quite simply...the highest honour for outstanding animal bravery and exceptional dedication in civilian life."
It has so far been awarded to honoured 30 animals.
