Since being trained, he’s discovered dozens of landmines and cleared the equivalent of 20 football pitches of land....
BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Magawa, a giant African rat, has a special knack for detecting landmines.
Since being trained, he’s discovered dozens of landmines and cleared the equivalent of 20 football pitches of land.
Magawa has been formally recognised for his work and been presented with a miniature Gold Medal from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
Cambodia estimates that between 4m and 6m landmines were laid in the country between 1975 and 1998. Every discovery [Magawa] makes reduces the risk of injury or death for local people.”
This isn’t your ordinary feline! With a smaller population than tigers, fishing cats are the most adorable endangered species that you’ve probably never heard of. Unlike most cats, these kitties are agile swimmers, using their partially-webbed paws to paddle and hunt for fish and other wildlife. The crafty felines have a unique way to catch dinner, brushing the water with their paws - mimicking bugs! - to trap fish looking for their own meals. Sadly, fishing cats are at risk because their mangrove forest habitat in South Asia is being destroyed for fish and shrimp farms. Not only does this deforestation hurt these creatures, it’s also bad for the environment! Mangroves trap huge amounts of carbon from the air and play a key role in fighting climate change.
Compiled by SZ
