Piggies and rabbits kept together at Chessington!

Status
Not open for further replies.
pixachu

pixachu

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
39
Reaction score
0
Points
120
Location
Surrey
I took my kids to Chessington yesterday for the first time. We went to the kiddie farm area as we knew they had guinea pigs, but found their home empty and a sign saying something along the lines of them being at their holiday home....

A few minutes later we spotted a rabbit section and in a caged off area there were several rabbits AND guinea pigs together?

As a relative newbie to guinea pigs, I only know that I have been told they should not be kept together. I know back in the 80s we had one of each and maybe then we were ignorant to the facts about nutrition etc.....

Anyway, I thought I would ask here. Is it ever ok for them to be together? They were in an unsupervised area (secure) Perhaps it was just for daytime play, who knows?
 
It is completely wrong and so dangerous. One kick from a rabbit can kill a guinea pig and their diets are totally different. You would expect better from places like this. I can only recommend that you write a complaint or report then to the local council or RSPCA.

Amy
x
 
No it's not suitable, your right about the back in day thing, many were kept together but nutrition and injury is an issue. Rabbits are so powerful they can seriously harm or kill a piggie by kicking them. This doesn't have to be aggressive, it could happen in a moment of excitement. So although they can make great pals, its not worth the risk.

I was looking after a friends rabbit, it was in an inside run, guineapigs in another, she broke out of hers and into the pigs, as she was running around she sent a pig flying with her back legs in the time it took to get across the room. We had to take him to the vets afterwards as he stopped walking around.
Thankfully it was just a dose of shock and some bruising, poor little mite, I think it was a good job he was young at the time - bendy bones, lol.

This happens often though, a rescue near me in wales keeps them together. I have offered to take a piggie from them, 'george', but they weren't willing to let me adopt him because they bonded him with a rabbit, i didn't want the rabbit.

Lets hope they are usually seperate since there was another area for them?
 
I took a few pics - will upload later this afternoon. The rabbits were really big ones too, which seemed risky.
I will definitely email them about it in the first instance, advising how dangerous the situation is.
 
This is an extract from the RSPCA website about why not to keep rabbits and guinea pigs together:-
The RSPCA advises against keeping rabbits and guinea pigs together for a number of reasons

The two species have different needs so keeping them together is not ideal. For example, rabbits and guinea pigs have different dietary needs. Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs cannot synthesise vitamin C and therefore this must be provided adequately within their diet.

Rabbits can cause injury to guinea pigs, intentionally or unintentionally, by kicking them with their powerful back legs. Rabbits may also bully their guinea pig companion, which can make the guinea pig stressed if he/she cannot get away from the rabbit. Additionally, if the rabbit should attempt to mate the guinea pig, the rabbit is likely to cause injury to the guinea pig’s back and may also injure the guinea pig by biting him/her on the neck, which is part of normal rabbit mating behaviour.

The bacteria, Bordetella bronchiseptica,is the most common cause of respiratory disease in guinea pigs. Rabbits, as well as cats and dogs, can carry this bacteria which can be passed to guinea pigs and cause disease. Therefore, due to the risk of infection, guinea pigs should not be housed with rabbits, and should be kept away from dogs and cats.

Rabbits behave and communicate in very different ways to guinea pigs, so if kept together they will not understand the other species' behaviour and therefore do not make ideal companions for one another.

So basically the RSPCAs own advice is that there is a problem in terms 1) diet 2) risk of injury 3) spread of disease 4) behaviour

Just thought that might be useful reference when you are making your calls. Good luck.
 
....just trying to remember how to get pics on here :)
 
Chessington_Zoo_Feb13054_zpsaccdd40e.jpg

Chessington_Zoo_Feb13056_zpsb204ecd9.jpg

Chessington_Zoo_Feb13052_zps5b8f1b65.jpg


I think there were just two rabbits in there - but look how big they are!
 
Last edited:
Good to hear that you will be emailing them. Let's hope you get a favourable response.

gplearner said:
The bacteria, Bordetella bronchiseptica,is the most common cause of respiratory disease in guinea pigs. Rabbits, as well as cats and dogs, can carry this bacteria which can be passed to guinea pigs and cause disease. Therefore, due to the risk of infection, guinea pigs should not be housed with rabbits, and should be kept away from dogs and cats.
Click to expand...

Now I'm worried. I've never heard this before. My dog and cat live in the same room as my pigs and obviously walk about on the same floor that the piggies have their floor time on. Am I putting my pigs at risk? :o
 
hiya Margret, I can't say for sure, but my pigs have never gotten sick from my dog or two cats. x
 
My gosh they are huge bunnies!
I'd be interested to hear what they say in reply to your mail, keep us posted :)
 
Yes, really big bunnies... I will let you know when they reply. I got an automated response but expect it will be a while before they properly reply as they are really busy this week.
 
I got a reply -

" The guinea pigs that we have here at Chessington Zoo are not actually housed with the rabbits that we have. At present the guinea pig enclosure is currently under refurbishment and during the day when the weather is good enough, they are put into the same grass area so that that can have some fresh air and stretch their legs for a few hours. This area is constantly under supervision by a member of the zoo host team alongside an ungulate keeper that is on the section that day.

As they are not actually housed in the same enclosure the guinea pigs and rabbits eat and sleep in different enclosures ensuring that we do cater for the dietary needs of the guinea pigs.
Both of the rabbits that we have here at Chessington Zoo are female and have both been spade and the guinea pigs have all been vaccinated to help prevent any spread of disease and bacteria.

The Zoo is heavily regulated by the Zoo Licensing Act, and as such receives regular inspections - the most recent of which found all aspects of our Zoo operation to be more than satisfactory receiving commendation from the licensing panel who noted “a high standard of animal health and care”. "


I have replied with a photo of the animals together, not in the grassy area and not supervised! Oh and it was dry and sunny, so a shame they were not in their grassy play area....
And I suggested they review their procedures "for the welfare of the guinea pigs at this time whilst their refurbishment is ongoing"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top