When British charity PDSA announced the winner of the Gold Medal, its top civilian award, people were surprised—mostly because the winner wasn’t a person at all, but a giant African pouched rat.
Magawa was awarded the high honor for his diligent work searching out unexploded land mines in Cambodia.
The nearly three-pound rat was presented with a tiny gold medal and commended for his “lifesaving bravery and devotion” after discovering 39 landmines and 28 items of unexploded ordinance in the past seven years, according to the charity.
They also noted that when Magawa’s not saving lives, he enjoys snacking on peanuts and bananas and napping. Same, Magawa, same.
