Did you know…? - Switzerland's Guinea Pigs

The guinea pig is a species of rodent belonging to the genus Cavia in the family Caviidae and their scientific name is ‘Cavia porcellus’. The word ‘porcellus’ is latin for ‘little pig’ - in fact, male guinea pigs are called 'boars' and female guinea pigs are called 'sows'. However, they're not actually related to pigs at all! If you ever have the chance to be around them, you might notice they make cute little squeaking noises reminiscent of pig-like squeals.

Guinea pigs are also not from Guinea! They originate from the Andes Mountains in South America. Some historians theorise that they were introduced to Europe by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century via the Guinea region in Africa, leading people to link the area to their origin story - but this will always be a mystery.

If you hear someone refer to a guinea pig as a 'cavy', they are most likely a breeder. You may also hear someone use the idiom 'guinea pig' in casual conversation. For example, "I need to test out a new recipe, can you be my guinea pig?" Popularised in the 1920s, unfortunately, this term exists because guinea pigs have been used in animal testing for decades. Initially seen in experiments by the German doctor Robert Koch (most famous for the discovery of the tuberculosis bacterium) in the late 1800s, guinea pigs are still experimented on today; namely in tests investigating various allergies and respiratory diseases as well as hearing and nutritional research.

However, a lot of people simply enjoy these furry little fluff balls for who they are! In fact, as of 2021, it is estimated that over 1.5 million families have guinea pigs as pets in the USA alone and that a whopping 3.8 million guinea pigs live in the USA. Why is this figure more than doubled? Because apart from being small and relatively low maintenance to take care of, guinea pig lovers are made aware that these amazing creatures are incredibly social. Although they are known to have a natural nemesis in rabbits, they do enjoy human affection and they need to be with their own kind. At least in pairs but ideally in small groups, they actually communicate with each other! The most well-known sound, a type of 'wheek-wheek', is a call they use to find one of their furry friends or show excitement. Like cats, they also purr when they are relaxed and content. And if they're exploring, you can hear them make little 'putt-putt' noises. Super cute!

On 16th July 2019, Guinea Pig Appreciation Day (founded by Piggles Guinea Pig Rescue), Dr Jane Tyson, a rabbit and rodent expert for RSPCA, stated: "Guinea pigs are sociable, active animals. They need to live with at least one other friendly guinea pig and benefit from enrichment so it’s important to give them a large space where they can play and explore together..."

Knowing this, it would seem unnaturally cruel, almost like animal abuse, to keep one on its own - don't you think? Luckily, Switzerland's trusty lawmakers agree! They are the first country to recognise that animals have what we can describe as 'social rights'. Since 2008, it has been officially illegal in Switzerland to have just one guinea pig at a time. Although guinea pigs can live quite long lives, in the event one guinea pig outlives another, there are rent-a-guinea-pig places you can foster one until your pet does pass, avoiding a potentially problematic never-ending cycle of guinea pig purchasing.

Switzerland's animal welfare policies regarding social rights extend to other awesome creatures too! Just as guinea pigs move around in herds in the wild, goldfish also swim in shoals in their natural habitat. Therefore, Swiss law mandates that you cannot keep one goldfish alone in a tank.

Several particularly social species of birds (e.g. Japanese quails, macaws, cockatoos, parakeets, parrots, canaries, lovebirds etc.) must also be kept with a companion or be allowed to at least interact with other birds regularly. And if you have a cat who doesn't socialise with other cats, for instance, if they are a housecat, you must ensure they have access to a window they can use to see other cats.

Switzerland is known as an extremely innovative country for many reasons, but its stance on animal welfare is my personal favourite. Let's hope their forward-thinking spreads to the rest of the globe..!

What do you think of Switzerland’s animal welfare policies? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Did you know…? - How much do we know about hippopotamuses?

The name hippopotamus means “river horse” in ancient Greek.

A group of hippos is called a bloat but it is also known as a herd, or a pod.

A male hippo is called a bull while a female hippo is called a cow. A baby hippo is called a calf.

Hippos live in Africa and can be found in forests and savannahs.

These beautiful mammals spend a large amount of their life in water, such as streams, lakes, rivers, and swamps.

But did you know that hippos cannot swim and cannot float? The reason for spending the majority of their time in water is to protect their extremely sensitive skin from the harsh African sun.

When you see a hippo in a body of water, they’re actually balancing on their tippy-toes or standing on a sandbank. Hippos sink when in deep water. So, when a hippo is underwater, they aren’t swimming but rather trotting along on the bottom.

Although hippos spend most of their time submerged in water, they need to resurface every 3 - 5 minutes to breathe. The motion of surfacing and breathing through their nostrils is an automatic one, so they even do this when they are sleeping.

Hippos have their eyes, nose, and ears on the top of their head, so they can still see whilst submerged in the water.

Some sources report that hippos are considered the second largest mammal who live on Earth, only behind the elephant, while others place them on the third place behind elephants and white rhinos.

Despite their impressive size, however, hippos are not big eaters.

Hippos are herbivores and although they will eat any plant that comes their way, grass is their favorite. They can spend up to 4-5 hours a day grazing.

While they are surrounded by aquatic plants for most of the day, they do not eat them and search for food on land instead. Hippos forage for food at night to escape the blistering African heat of the day.

During the first year of life hippo calves nurse on milk from their moms. The hippos’ body has adapted to allow the calves to nurse both on land and underwater. The eyes and nostrils close to prevent the calf from ingesting water and they can maintain this position for several minutes. Despite internet rumors, hippo milk is not pink. Like most other mammals, their milk is whitish yellow in color.

Due to their size, adult hippos do not have animal predators.

These amazing semi-aquatic mammals are threatened by humans as they are poached for their meat and their ivory teeth.

Hippopotamuses are considered one of the most dangerous animals where they live and will rightfully attack anything or anyone who hurts or threatens them.

When threatened on land, most hippos will run for cover in water nearby and display their sign of aggression which we see as a yawn. Hippos only “yawn” when in water and they are actually showing you how big their teeth are!

Hippos are known to attack other hippos who are trying to take their territory, and females will attack predators that are trying to hurt their young.

There are a few predators that will try to hunt young hippos such as Nile crocodiles, lions, and hyenas.

Hippos are also known to make honking or grunting sounds whilst in water to mark their territory.

Did you know that two of the most important things in hippos’ lives take place in water?

Mating and giving birth happen in water.

Hippos mate every two years. Both males and females use vocalizations, body language, and even their own urine and feces to show their interest (or lack thereof).

A male will travel, compete, and fight other males to get the mate he wants, so typically only dominant, powerful hippos are allowed to mate successfully. A male may have up to 10 mates in one lifetime.

Female hippos have a gestational period of roughly 8 months. Hippos will only have one baby at a time.

Have you ever seen a hippo basking in the sun? If you have, you may have noticed what seems to be blood dripping from their skin. Hippos have evolved over time to be able to secrete this substance, oily and red in color which comes from pores in their skin, which protects them from the sun’s rays, and it is also an effective moisturizer and germ-killer.

Did you know that remains of hippos were found underneath Trafalgar Square? (a public square in the City of Westminster in Central London, UK).

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Did you know…? - How much do we know about skunks?

Did you know that a group of skunks is called a surfeit?

Skunks, also called polecats, are mammals in the family Mephitidae, which means “stink.”

The skunk family is composed of 11 species, 9 of which are found in the Western Hemisphere.

Although skunks have very poor eyesight, they have excellent senses of smell and hearing.

They are infamously known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands, and for their digging habits.

According to Havahart, a skunk's sulfuric spray has a range of up to 10 feet, and its odor can be detected up to 1.5 miles.

Why do skunks spray?

Skunks use their anal glands as a defense mechanism, so it is a common misconception that skunks spray all the time. Skunks in fact, only use their spray when they feel they have exhausted all of their other threat behaviors.

A skunk’s anal glands have evolved into two nipples that extend out of the anus in order to spray.

Skunks are capable of coordinating their sphincter muscles in order to control the direction these nipples spray.

And, by making the opening of the nipples larger or smaller, they can adjust the consistency of the spray.

If a skunk knows who their enemy is, they will probably aim a stream directly at their target.

In the case where skunks are being chased by a predator but cannot see it, the spray is emitted as an atomized cloud that the pursuer must run through.

Skunk spray is so potent that it can induce vomiting and cause temporary blindness but does not transmit rabies.

ABC Humane Wildlife, in fact, reports rabies is only transmitted through being bitten (saliva) or brain tissue.

Although skunks will leave holes in your lawn when digging for insects, they can actually eat almost anything and as a result, it’s very easy for them to thrive in different habitats including deserts, forests, and mountains.

Did you know that skunks are immune to snake venom?

Skunks, in fact, are known to eat poisonous snakes like rattlesnakes.

But what animals eat skunks?

Skunks are mainly eaten by great horned owls but also by eagles, crows, vultures, coyotes, foxes, dogs, bobcats, mountain lions, American badgers, and even humans, according to Britannica.

Did you know that skunks are crepuscular, meaning they come out mostly at dusk and dawn?

They are solitary creatures when not breeding, though in colder climates females may den together.

After mating, the male is driven off, and the female raises the litter of 2 to 12 offspring (kits) alone. Kits are born from about the end of April through early June.

Breeding occurs in the spring, except in the Western spotted skunk, who breeds in the fall but undergoes a period of delayed implantation lasting about 150 days.

Eastern spotted skunks breed at the same time of year as other skunks, resulting in both species’ producing litters at the same time.

Skunks’ average lifespan in the wild is 3 years. In captivity, they may live for up to 10 years.

Automobiles are a major cause of mortality for skunks in the United States.

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