Monument Honoring Hero Rat Unveiled

A monument honoring a rat sapper named Magawa, who discovered over 100 mines, has been unveiled in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap. The stone statue, carved from local rock, was revealed on the International Day for Mine Action. Magawa, who began his work in 2016, has cleared over 141,000 square meters of land during his five-year career, saving many lives in the process. In Cambodia, more than a million people still live in areas affected by mines and unexploded ordnance. Rats, with their keen sense of smell and lightweight, are ideal for detecting mines without triggering them. Additionally, giant hamster rats have been trained to locate survivors in disaster zones, wearing vests equipped with video cameras, microphones, and tracking devices. When they find a person, they press a button to alert rescuers.