Cambodia's landmine-sniffing rat hero dies

Magawa helped clear mines from about 225,000sq m of land over the course of his career. - AFP

PHNOM PENH (AFP): A landmine-hunting rat that was awarded a gold medal for heroism for clearing ordnance from the Cambodian countryside has died, his charity said Tuesday (Jan 11).

Magawa, a giant African pouched rat originally from Tanzania, helped clear mines from about 225,000sq m of land -- the equivalent of 42 football pitches -- over the course of his career.