The Fascinating Story of the Guinea Pig

by: JohnSavage
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How many times I wonder have you visited with a friend or relative only to find one of their children enthusiastically dragging you out to the back yard to see their new guinea pig, and then left you wondering how much or how little you know about these animals?

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.

South America is the original homeland for the guinea pig, and in particular the Incas are the first recorded people to have them in their homes. They were treated as a religious icon but also I am afraid they were used for meals and that is still true today in some parts of South America.

In many parts of Peru they are thought very highly of because of their apparent ability to heal the sick and bring comfort and solace to the dying as they move into the next life.

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 pig part of their name came about because of the funny squealing noise they make and their resemblance to actual 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.

Still today guinea pigs are used for research purposes, but mostly in the area of genetics and hereditary matters, and we are assured that they are not harmed in any way.

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.

Well now, the next time your friend's children show you their latest pet I think you will look at it with different eyes.

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Next thing check out John Savages excellent website on guinea pigs where you can pick up some free articles and detailed descriptions on these fantastic animals  

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