College assignment

[Katy_101]

Hiya,
Ive started an animal management course at college and have an assignment due on wild guinea pigs, i was wondering if anyone knew how big a wild guinea pig's territory is in their natural environment?
And if wild guinea pigs have a fight or flight response to predators? I think its flight but I'm not sure.
Don't worry if no one knows, I just can't find it within my research.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Gia]

Hiya,
Ive started an animal management course at college and have an assignment due on wild guinea pigs, i was wondering if anyone knew how big a wild guinea pig's territory is in their natural environment?
And if wild guinea pigs have a fight or flight response to predators? I think its flight but I'm not sure.
Don't worry if no one knows, I just can't find it within my research.
Thanks in advance.

I did a large presentation on wild piggies as well. I found quite a bit of info on them. I don’t remember any of it though! Lol!

 

[sport_billy]

Piggies would have a flight response... as they are prey animals....

 

[Claire W]

I wonder if @Wiebke can help you with this as she knows all things guinea pig

 

[Wiebke]

Hiya,
Ive started an animal management course at college and have an assignment due on wild guinea pigs, i was wondering if anyone knew how big a wild guinea pig's territory is in their natural environment?
And if wild guinea pigs have a fight or flight response to predators? I think its flight but I'm not sure.
Don't worry if no one knows, I just can't find it within my research.
Thanks in advance.

Try to google for information on cavia aperea and cavia tschudii (the wild guinea pig species and the most likely subspecies from which our domestic guinea pigs have been bred out from about 3000-6000 years ago). Most research is published in journals, for which you will have to pay a fee in order to access articles. Compared to other species, guinea pigs are still woefully underresearched.
You may find access to further articles via these ones here:
ADW: Cavia aperea: INFORMATION
How wild cavies and domesticated guinea pigs differ
Of domestic and wild guinea pigs: studies in sociophysiology, domestication, and social evolution. - PubMed - NCBI
https://actavet.vfu.cz/media/pdf/actavet_2016085030293.pdf

More of my own observation of guinea pig instincts in domestic piggies. In my own experience it is a bit more complicated than just a simple flight/fight instinct of which they have both, but like many prey animals, even domestic guinea pigs have a more differentiated and varied way of reacting to a range of scenarios that involve predators and stressful situations. The flight reflex is the most predominant - avoiding any risk of life by getting away from a dangerous situation is always the first and best choice. The other reactions come in when flight is not an option.
While there are considerable differences between wild and domestic guinea pigs that largely prevent interbreeding, these instincts have not been completely bred out. They are usually most noticeable in guinea pigs that haven't had much in the way of friendly human interaction and that are not yet used to a pet environment.
I hope that while it doesn't apply directly to your research, it can give some food for thought.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
" Biting" And What You Can Do