When writing about the massive monument to the hero rat Magawa, I noted that it looked like wood, despite all reporting stating it was stone. I went so far as to feed a picture to A.I. to try to learn more, and the robots suspected it as wood too. When pressed, they suggested it could be something like sandstone, however.

Not content with this uncertainty, I contacted Apopo’s press office. A day later, I received this ever so helpful reply:

Hi Paul,

Thank you so much for your support over the years, we really appreciate it.

Yes, I can confirm that the Magawa sculpture is indeed made from stone. It’s carved from the same type of Cambodian stone traditionally used in Angkor Wat, which is part of what makes it so special.

I agree it can be surprising from certain angles, the craftsmanship is extraordinary, and the finish and detailing can sometimes give it a warmer, almost “wood-like” appearance in photos and video.

If you haven’t already seen it, here’s the making-of video which shows the process in more detail: https://youtu.be/sPeRQieGMoE

Thanks again for helping share Magawa’s story.

What a delightfully definitive answer. Though my eyes still struggle to believe it, the Magawa statue is indeed made of stone. And sure enough, Angkor Wat is made of millions of sandstone blocks. The making-of video confirms it’s yellow sandstones, and at about the 6:15 mark, there’s even footage of the carving process showing a nascent Magawa:

I am delighted to have been shown this video evidence, and to share it with you. Now I’ll close with a link to Apopo’s donation page, where you too can sponsor a real-life landmine detection rat for that special someone in your life.