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02/11/2019 For many people, guinea pigs are charming pets; they often become full-fledged family members for their owner. But few people think about how these rodents live in natural conditions. Wild guinea pigs, of course, have different living conditions - no one cares for them or cares for them. These animals can only rely on themselves - they look for food themselves, arrange their homes themselves, and defend themselves from enemies. The characteristics of undomesticated guinea pigs and their living conditions will be discussed in this article.
Habitat
Let us repeat that the ancestors of modern domestic pigs still live in Latin America, where they are distributed almost everywhere. They can be found in swamps, plains, and rocky mountains.
Today there are several species of wild rodents, grouped under the common genus Cavia. Externally, the animals are very similar and only a specialist can distinguish them. Each of these species has its own territory on the mainland:
- Peru - Cavia tschudii,
- Andes valley - Cavia cutleri,
- Amazon River Basin,
- Brazil - Cavia aparea,
- Bolivia - Cavia fulgida.
Surprisingly, in each of these countries the animals are called differently: some locals call them cavia, others - gui, and still others - aparea.
Top 10: Animals eaten in other countries
We love meat very much - maybe even excessively. However, as a recent example from the US shows, people only like certain types of meat: when the US Department of Agriculture wanted to approve a horse meat plant, people did not approve. Yes, conditions in meat processing plants are terrible for other common animals, and horses are “companion animals,” but in other countries, more distant from Western civilization, horses are bred for meat.
However, if you also think that horses are an unfortunate delicacy, you will be surprised to know what kind of meat is a common dish in other countries. Vegetarians, look away...
10. Iguana
Yes, people eat iguanas. This is a traditional dish in some areas of Mexico and Central America, plus the meat of iguanas is very rich in vitamins, and tastes like chicken (which, interestingly, does not taste like chicken?) Most often, people eat ordinary iguanas, ctenosaurs and black iguanas.
True, the sale of iguanas in the United States is prohibited, but due to Florida's lax laws, they are imported as exotic pets and become annoying pests. They dig under sidewalks, climb into attics and eat endangered flora and fauna, so this could change the "protected" status of iguana meat very quickly.
9. Turtles
Everyone has heard of turtle soup, and everyone has also heard that some species of turtles carry salmonella. However, as with any pet (or food in this case), if they are taken care of and washed properly, turtles can be eaten. If you love delicacies, you can find plenty of turtle recipes online to please gourmet taste buds.
Although they are very popular in Central America and Asia (sea turtle eggs are considered an excellent aphrodisiac), turtles are mainly a staple in Chinese medicine: they are believed to hydrate, nourish and support the kidneys and blood, as well as relieve menopausal symptoms. Yes, you heard right, menopause symptoms.
8. Guinea pigs
Guinea pigs? Nooo, not our cute furry pets! Unfortunately, in some parts of South America, guinea pigs are a fairly popular meat, which is said to be healthier than beef (it feels like everything is healthier than beef) and tastes like lamb.
In Peru alone, about 65 million guinea pigs are consumed annually. And why not? They are easy to feed, easy to breed (a female guinea pig can give birth to 3-5 litters per year, each of which will have from 1 to 6 cubs), and also take up less space than regular livestock. In fact, Peruvians think we are crazy for keeping them as pets. And considering that they can cost up to $50 (not including food, cages and other things to keep guinea pigs), maybe they're right.
7. Emu
Emus are known for several things: they are the second largest bird in the world, are native to Australia, and their name is a lot of fun to say. However, if you believe emu connoisseurs (it turns out that such people exist), emu is a rare combination of taste and healthfulness. Emu meat is dietary, low in cholesterol, rich in iron and vitamin C, and tastes similar to sirloin steak. Despite being considered a delicacy among the tribes of Australia, for some reason the rest of the world has not appreciated this meat. Maybe everyone was laughing so hard at the name of these big birds that they forgot that they had to eat dinner.
6. Larvae
While the thought of eating grubs will cause most people to look around for a convenient bag to throw up, grubs are almost entirely protein and are very nutritious. They are eaten in parts of Africa, and of course in China. In addition to the fact that larvae can be a main dish, they are also useful in medicine - they can be used to determine the moment of death of a person, with their help you can get rid of rotten meat and waste, and they are also used in the production of cheese in Sardinia (and eaten together with cheese).
5. Camels
Oddly enough, camel meat has been consumed for centuries. The ancient Greeks wrote that camel meat was served at Persian banquets, and in the form of a whole roasted animal. The Roman Emperor Heliogabalus loved camel hooves. Apart from Heliogabalus, most people prefer the brisket, ribs and loin of camels, and their hump is considered a special delicacy. The hump of camels contains “white and sweet fat”, which can be used to preserve other meats - lamb, beef and camel. Although camel meat is quite tough meat, the longer you cook it, the more tender it becomes.
Camel meat is commonly consumed as an alternative source of protein in arid countries such as Djibouti, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan. In Kenya, camel blood is mixed with milk to obtain iron, vitamin D, salt and other minerals. The Abu Dhabi Officers' Club mixes beef or lamb fat with camel meat to create burgers, and in Alice Springs, Australia you can enjoy camel lasagna. Just don't tell Garfield.
4. Dolphins
Although dolphin hunting occurs in a small number of places (coastal cities in Japan, the Faroe Islands and the Solomon Islands), the practice is frowned upon in the rest of the world, not least because dolphin meat contains high concentrations of methylmercury. Although all fish contain mercury, dolphins have too high levels of mercury due to the fact that they feed on other marine animals that contain mercury, and it accumulates in their bodies over the 18 to 50 years of their lives.
3. Cassowaries
Cassowaries are a species of large bird related to ostriches and emus, endemic to the forests of New Guinea and other islands northeast of Australia. And according to the Korowai people of southeastern Papua, cassowary meat tastes very similar to human flesh. Although cannibalism is not a big part of their culture as in other tribes, any person accused of being a kakua (secret sorcerer) will be ritually eaten. So they know what we taste like. The truth is, in fact, this is all very complicated - after all, most cassowaries are considered to be under threat of extermination, and cannibalism is an illegal activity. However, this will not stop adventurous (crazy) people from trying these types of meat. And if anyone is “brave” enough to try human and cassowary meat, tell us your impressions in the comments. And don’t forget to indicate your address so that we can send a police squad to you.
2. Dogs
Everyone knows that in China, Vietnam, South Korea and other Asian countries they eat dogs. As it turns out, dogs were eaten in Ancient Rome, Ancient Mexico and Ancient China. Now the practice is common in Switzerland, and even US President Barack Obama has tried dog meat.
While some consider dog meat a traditional dish, others consider it inappropriate and even blasphemous. Eating dogs is prohibited in both Judaism and Islam, and in Buddhism, dog meat is one of the “five forbidden meats.” Dog farmers, on the other hand, do not consider it any different from raising other livestock. And you decide for yourself - if in doubt, reconsider White Bim.
1. Jellyfish
People all over the world eat octopus and squid, but are jellyfish safe to eat? Technically, yes. Of the 85 known species of jellyfish, 12 can be eaten. They are primarily found in Southeast Asia, but due to the popularity of American cornet, they are also found in the North Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico and are eaten in China and Japan.
The preparation takes 20-40 days and is carried out by a man with the cool title of “jellyfish master”. During preparation, the gonads and mucous membrane are removed, and the dome and tentacles are treated with alum solution and table salt. After this, compression is used, which reduces odor, liquid content and harmful organisms. The result is a crispy, brittle dish. Even though jellyfish are 94% water and 6% protein, they contain almost no cholesterol, carbohydrates or saturated fat. Unfortunately, jellyfish meat can contain the same bacteria as all other types of meat. And yet, it is very interesting to learn that some types of jellyfish are edible and not poisonous.
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