Angela Ferrão

Magawa the African Rat:
A Different Kind of Hero

My story about Magawa the Giant African Pouched rat or HeroRATs as they are called by the Belgian NGO APOPO that trains them in no way is a critique of the stellar work done by this organization that has tried to mitigate human deaths and injuries. It is a critique on the power structures that control our lives and invariable affect millions of creatures who have no role other than that of victim to play in our callous world.

Angela Ferrão is an independent cartoonist From Goa, India.

“It was over a year ago that a news item popped up in my feed. It was about a ‘rat’ being awarded a gold medal for bravery! Of course that caught my attention. And there began a fascinating journey researching the incredible origin story about a HeroRAT named Magawa. A species of rodent from Africa they are called ‘Giant African Pouched Rats’. These rats are trained by APOPO an NGO from Belgium to sniff out land mines. They are able to cover vast areas in a matter of hours which would take humans days. My focus turned to the creature on whose tiny furry shoulders the fate of humans rested. Unknown and unasked for herodom was thrust on him. I took off from there.”   ⁠
— Angela Ferrão

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