African giant pouched rats are a kind of animal living inAfrica. They can usually live for 6 to 8 years. Like other rats, they enjoyeating vegetables, eggs, meat and many other kinds of food. But their favouriteis fruits, such as bananas.

They also like water. These rats have long tails and large pouches. And they usually use the pouches to keep their food. As big as small cats, they have got bodies about 30 to 45 cm long. Being only about 1 to 1.4 kg, the rats are easy to take, and they are so lightthat they can walk on landmines but never make them blow up. The rats can't see things well, but they have clever noses. Their noses can help them find out special things. After training, they can find landmines fast.

Magawa is one of the rats. He is seven years old. He does quite well in his job and has found 39 landmines. Forevery landmine Magawa finds, he saves a life.Because of his great work, people give him a medal'—the animals' George Cross. Magawa is the first rat to get it. The other 29 animals are all dogs.