FAMOUS RAT DIES

A famous rat has died. Magawa, a rat credited with finding over 100 landmines and explosives in Cambodia, is dead at age 8. The African giant pouched male rat was the most successful landmine detecting rat for the nonprofit APOPO – a Tanzania-based group that trains rats to detect landmines. According to APOPO, Magawa “passed away peacefully this weekend” having recently celebrated his birthday. Magawa retired last year after spending four years discovering explosives with his incredible sense of smell. African giant pouched rats are larger than the average pet rat, but are not heavy enough to set off most landmines by walking over them.
* Key word: “most.”
* He spent his final year at the Home For The Very, Very Nervous.
* Magawa started his career in Hollywood, sniffing for box office bombs, where he was able to successfully predict “Dear Evan Hanson” and “Doolittle” would fail horribly.
* Smart enough to sniff out landmines. Not smart enough to pretend he can’t sniff out landmines.
* In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted in Magawa’s name at the city dump.
* Do celebrity rats die in threes, like human celebrities? Keep your eyes open for any news about Ratatouille or Chuck E. Cheese.