likes snacking on bananas

Posted: September 25th, 2020 | Tags: | Comments Off on likes snacking on bananas
Magawa wearing his gold medal from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, a British charity, on Friday. Credit: PDSA, via Agence France-Presse — Getty
Magawa wearing his gold medal from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, a British charity, on Friday. Credit: PDSA, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

amazing article about Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, who detects mines and explosives in Cambodia, and just won (deservedly!) a gold medal for his work:

He can search an area the size of a tennis court in 30 minutes, whereas a person with a metal detector would usually take four days to search an area of that size. When he finds a mine, he signals to his handler by scratching at the earth above it.

AND:

Described by Malen, his main handler, as friendly and hard working, Magawa has a work-life balance that is likely the envy of many a human. “He is very quick and decisive,” Malen said in a statement provided by People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, “but he is also the first one to take a nap during a break.”

When he is not in the minefield, the two-foot-long rat likes snacking on bananas, peanuts and watermelons, and taking a spin on the running wheel.

PS CONTINUED APOLOGIES FOR THE GRUESOME GOYA-ESQUE PHOTOGRAPHS, THIS BLOG IS BROKEN BUT SO IS MY BRAIN SO I CAN’T DEAL WITH CALLING YAHOO BUT I SWEAR I WILL, SOON

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