Where do guinea pigs come from?

They were domesticated from wild cavies in the Andes of South America around 5000 BC for food, later spreading to Europe in the early 1500s.

Why do guinea pigs need vitamin C in their diet?

Like humans, guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C internally, so they must get it from fresh vegetables or fortified food.

Guinea Pigモルモット

Cavia porcellusNE— Not Evaluated

The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a domesticated rodent originally from the Andes of South America, where it was raised for food as early as 5000 BC before spreading to Europe in the 1500s. A social, herbivorous animal, it cannot synthesize vitamin C and must obtain it from food, much like humans. It is now kept worldwide both as a beloved pet and in scientific research.

Guinea Pig (reference photo) — Photo: Gzen92 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Rodentia / Caviidae Source
Size: About 20–25 cm
Weight: 700–1,200 g (livestock breeds up to 3 kg)
Lifespan: Average 4–5 years, up to about 8 years (record 14 years 10 months)
Diet: Herbivore Herbivorous, with hay as the staple; also eats wild greens, vegetables, and fruit. Cannot synthesize vitamin C and must obtain it from food
Activity: Crepuscular
Distribution: Originated in the Andean region of South America (southern Peru, southern Bolivia, northern Argentina, and northern Chile), where it was domesticated for food around 5000 BC; it was introduced to Europe in the early 1500s. Source
Sources: en.wikipedia.org ja.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

Like humans, guinea pigs cannot synthesize their own vitamin C, a rare trait among rodents that has made them valuable in medical research since the 17th century. Source
It communicates through a rich vocal repertoire including a distinctive 'wheek' call and is highly social, thriving in pairs or groups. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 24

Guinea Pigモルモット

Species Data

Did You Know?

Where to See This Species

Ishikawa DoubutsuenIshikawaAbout 60 minutes from the Kanazawa-Morimoto Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway, about 40 minutes from the Kanazawa-Nishi Interchange, and about 20 minutes from the Komatsu Interchange.

Gokatsuraike Animal ParkMieAbout 10 minutes from the Seiwa-Taki Interchange.

Wan Park Kouchianimaru LandKochiAddress: 6-9-1 Sanbashi-dori, Kochi (inside Wanpark Kochi).

Tobe Zoological Park of Ehime PrefectureEhimeOpened in 1988

Utsunomiya DoubutsuenTochigiAbout 5 minutes from the Utsunomiya IC on the Tohoku Expressway; free parking for 1,000 cars.

Okazakishihigashi Kouen DoubutsuenAichiAbout 1 km toward Toyota from the Okazaki IC on the Tomei Expressway.

Iwate SafariParkIwateAbout 45 minutes from the Ichinoseki IC, about 30 minutes from the Wakayanagi-Kannari IC, or about 25 minutes via National Route 284.

African safariOitaBy car, the park is about 6 km (about 7 minutes) from the Beppu-wan Smart IC.

Noichi Zoological Park of Kochi PrefectureKochiA 20-minute walk or 13-minute rental-bicycle ride from Noichi Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen-Nahari Line.

Saitamakenkodomodoubutsu Shizen KouenSaitamaOpened in 1980

Ichikawashi DoushokubutsuenChibaAddress: 284-1 Omachi, Ichikawa, Chiba.

KOMORO ZOONaganoAddress: 311 Cho, Komoro, Nagano Prefecture (inside Kaikoen).

Suzaka ZooNaganoFrom the Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway, take Route 403, turn right at the Kotaka-machi intersection, turn left at the Kami-Hatcho intersection, cross Garyu Bridge, and turn left for the south entrance.

Naganoshichausuyama DoubutsuenNaganoThe nearest station is JR Shinonoi Station.

Tennoji ZooOsakaOpened in 1915

Ueno ZooTokyoOpened in 1882

TOBU ZOOSaitamaFrom Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen Station (west exit), about 10 minutes on foot (600 m) or about 5 minutes by bus.

Hitachishikamine DoubutsuenIbarakiAbout 5 minutes from the Hitachi-Chuo Interchange on the Joban Expressway via National Route 6.

Iida Shiritsu DoubutsuenNaganoAddress: 33 Ogimachi, Iida, Nagano.

Himeji Shiritsu DoubutsuenHyogoOpened in 1951

Hamamatsu Zoological GardensShizuokaOpened in 1950

Fuji Safari ParkShizuokaOpened in 1980

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

Nomaumahai LandEhimeBy train, about 40 minutes (about 30 minutes by limited express) from Matsuyama Station or Niihama Station to Imabari Station, then about 10 minutes by car.

Former facilities

North Safari SapporoHokkaidoOpened in 2005

Temporarily closed facilities

Satsukiyama DAYZOOOsakaOpened in 1957

Koufushiyuuki Kouen Fuzoku DoubutsuenYamanashi

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