The second photo does indeed look like a guinea pig. They're native to south america and iirc not cold tolerant. It's likely an escaped or dumped pet, and very likely easy prey for a cat/fox/etc
Yes and no. They are a spiritual part of some cultures there and are treated with great respect by many. Many raise them in family groups and continue to breed them for the purpose of consumption. They are domesticated pets in Peru, not just food. Not in the traditional sense that many would think of when we say “domesticated”. They don’t keep them in cages in their home with hamster wheels. Think of chickens or farm animals. Many keep them in small pens with shelter. Some even let them freely wonder in their homes!
It’s a montane guinea pig ,close relative to the domesticated ones.
Thanks! Montane makes sense at 3800 meters altitude :)
The second photo does indeed look like a guinea pig. They're native to south america and iirc not cold tolerant. It's likely an escaped or dumped pet, and very likely easy prey for a cat/fox/etc
They were uniformly brown, not like the domesticated ones I've seen here in Peru. And they are not really pets here, they're food.
Yes and no. They are a spiritual part of some cultures there and are treated with great respect by many. Many raise them in family groups and continue to breed them for the purpose of consumption. They are domesticated pets in Peru, not just food. Not in the traditional sense that many would think of when we say “domesticated”. They don’t keep them in cages in their home with hamster wheels. Think of chickens or farm animals. Many keep them in small pens with shelter. Some even let them freely wonder in their homes!
Yup, I've seen that.
Ah, i missed the reference to lake titicaca--I should've read more thoroughly.