鈥淎sk not what your vermin can do for you 鈥�,鈥� quipped my cousin Cindy as we deliberated, through texts, the merits of this much-maligned beast. Prior to our unusual discussion, she鈥檇 sent me a news article from Vice World News. It featured the headline, 鈥淎 Hero鈥檚 Retirement Party Awaits This World Famous, Medal-Winning Rat.鈥�
So, here鈥檚 the burning question: What do rats mean to you?鈥淔ilthy, nasty creatures!鈥� you might respond. 鈥淐arriers of pestilence and disease!鈥� you could rightly declare. Yet this story tells a different tale.
Magawa, a seven-year-old giant African pouched rat (try saying that five times fast), was one of many rats trained to sniff out landmines and even detect certain diseases such as tuberculosis. Born in Tanzania, he was trained for this dangerous work in Belgium, but after a busy five-year stint in Cambodia where he worked tirelessly each day to uncover 71 mines and 38 unexploded bombs, he is retiring this month. His efforts in this field have saved the lives of many innocent people. What an achievement! In recognition of his 鈥渄edication, skill and bravery鈥� he was recently awarded the PDSA Gold Medal, which is the animal equivalent of the British George Cross.
As you can well imagine, Magawa became the first rat in history to merit such an esteemed tribute and it immediately shot him to international fame. It was further reported that Magawa was in fine health, apart from a 鈥渕inor paw injury鈥� and, after a brief period in which he would 鈥渕entor鈥� 20 new recruits, he would be attending a lavish retirement party prepared in his honour. Then, his plans include living out his final, golden years in a kennel, resting comfortably, and enjoying a favoured diet of bananas and peanuts. In a final observation, his handler was quoted as saying she, 鈥溾�� would miss working with him very, very much.鈥�
Let us consider this eye-opening news for a moment. After all, it鈥檚 not often rats are the hero of the story. Never have we heard of rats meriting prestigious awards for their outstanding courage and service to mankind. I mean, have you ever read of a rat saving someone鈥檚 life by dragging them from a burning building? Or how about a rat scampering for help when the owner of the granary they lurk beneath is attacked by wolves? Seldom do we speak to someone who misses having a rat about the place. I can鈥檛 think of one, although I know of people who keep snakes as pets, so I suppose those folks are out there 鈥� somewhere.
However, my eyes have been now opened and I shall view the lowly rat, at least the giant African pouched variety, with new respect. I even felt a small amount of guilt when Nemo the cat threw up a hairball yesterday and I yelled, 鈥淩ATS!鈥� Maybe rats deserve better. Perhaps I should find a new expletive like, 鈥淎ww slugs!鈥� or 鈥淕ully dirt!鈥� which really can鈥檛 get much lower on the list of low.
In any case, if you have access to the internet, the story of Magawa is sure to brighten your day and lead you into some scintillating conversations. It sure did for Cindy and me.
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