A Brave Rat?

The impressive senses of smell in pigs and dogs are routinely used to detect all sorts of substances, including explosive devices. We now have the tale of 'Magawa', a Giant African pouched rat, trained to sniff out land mines and unexploded ordinance in Cambodia (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/05/magawa-the-mine-sniffing-rat-ends-career-in-cambodia-on-a-high). I suspect the Giant African pouched rat was chosen for this role, as it is much lighter than other animals and less likely to set-off explosive devices. Magawa is 'retiring' after 5 years on the job, with the Belgian APOPO charity. He has cleared more than 140,000 square metres of land. Magawa was very successful, finding 71 land mines and 38 items of unexploded ordinance. This Giant African pouched rat is the first non-dog to be given a top British award for 'bravery'. I think this is a harmless token but, giving a bravery award, is more than a little anthropomorphic (based on interpreting animal behaviour in human terms). Animals trained to find explosive devices, are doing the 'job' for rewards (generally food). They obviously have no concept of the 'danger' a human mine-clearer might feel. Pigs, dogs and rats wouldn't learn about danger as, the first time they 'failed', they would get blown up.