Magawa with his handler ready to start work.

 

 

 

 

Brian, who is a great supporter of the "Lend With Care" charity, gave us an interesting insight into the work of rats in detecting landmines and other ERWs (explosive remnants of war) and of their training in this much valued and necessary task.

The photo on the left shows his sponsored rat, Magawa, with his handler.   Magawa was born and trained in Tanzania before first going to work in Angola but is now working in Cambodia.  Cambodia is the world’s second most mined country in the world and Magawa is on a mission to protect local communities.

Magawa, who was born on 25th November 2013 tips the scales at 1.23 Kg and measures 70 cms from his nose to the tip of his tail.   He is a highly trained Mine Detection Rat or MDR for short and saves lives by using his remarkable sense of smell to safely sniff out explosives faster than existing methods.  His favourite foods are bananas and peanuts.