Magawa, who retired in June last year, died over the weekend, the international non-profit organisation APOPO announced on Tuesday.
Magawa was in good health and spent most of last week playing with his usual enthusiasm, but towards the weekend he started to slow down, napping more and showing less interest in food in his last days, APOPO said in a statement.
“All of us at APOPO are feeling the loss of Magawa and we are grateful for the incredible work he’s done,” the organisation said in a heartfelt tribute.
In 2020, Magawa was honoured with a gold medal from the UK-based People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals for lifesaving bravery and devotion to duty – the first rat to receive the award.
Magawa was bred in Tanzania and was brought to Siem Reap in Cambodia in 2016 to begin clearing mines.
Magawa, the landmine-sniffing hero rat, dies aged eight
‘Hero rat’ wins gold medal from UK charity for hunting landmines
Hero rats sniff out landmines and TB – CNN
