Many a time when you visit with a friend or relative one of their children will drag you out to see their pet guinea pig, but have you ever stopped and asked yourself what you know about these delightful pets?
And delightful they are, for guinea pigs make great pets, but they were not always a domestic animal, so just where do they originate from, and where did they get that name from, because, lets face it, its a rather odd name.
Well let me shock you by firstly saying that they are actually rodents, and are technically known as Cavies, but don’t let all this put you off, please read on.
These delightful animals have been around for millions of years, and we know this because of fossilised remains that have been uncovered and it is only relatively recently that they have become a family pet.
Now for something else to surprise you, they used to be much larger than they are today, averaging around 9 feet long. That’s a sizeable pet.
Now where do they come from? Well they originated in South America, and were first domesticated by the Incas. They were both a religious Icon, and sadly a source of food, and this is still the case even today in parts of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
Ever thought a rodent would be considered to have healing powers? Well in some parts of Peru they believe this and they think that the guinea pig can aid the transition from this life to the next. Now that is quite something!
These lovely creatures came to Europe and America courtesy of the sailors who brought them to sell for, guess what, a guinea, and that is where part of their name came from.
The second part of their name, pig, comes from their likeness, at the rear end, to pigs, and also to the fact that they tend to squeal a bit like pigs.
They have also been used quite a bit over the years in the field of research, and you have probably heard and used the expression “we are using him as a guinea pig”
Medical science has benefited greatly from the use of guinea pigs in their laboratories but of course although they have saved many a human life, the cost in the lives of the guinea pigs has been high.
Even today they are still used for research but in a more humane way which we are told does not cause any distress to the animal.
Today in Peru, guinea pigs still play a prominent role in various ceremonies, and quite often a person will give one as a present when they are trying to impress.
You may be surprised to learn that a rodent could be so well loved, but a recent survey placed guinea pigs just behind dogs, cats and rabbits in the popular pet league.
So, next time your friends children drag you out to look at their pet guinea pig you will understand a little more about the attraction of these animals.
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Before you do anything else check out John Savages great resource on guinea pigs where you can pick up some free materials and more information on these great pets.
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