Social approach preferences in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) for housing and welfare
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Authors
Jeon, G.M.
Braid, N.
Cameron, Kristie
Braid, N.
Cameron, Kristie
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2025-11-06
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Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation
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Keyword
guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)
pair bonding in animals
ramps
animal housing
animal behaviour and welfare
pair bonding in animals
ramps
animal housing
animal behaviour and welfare
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Jeon, G.M., Braid, N., Burden, E., & Cameron , K.E. (2025, November, 6). Social approach preferences in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) for housing and welfare [Poster presentation]. School of Environmental and Animal Sciences Research Symposium 2025, Auckland, New Zealand.
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/7076
Abstract
Domestic guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), popular pets worldwide, are prey species that live in social groups of up to 10 cavies in the wild. Although there are housing recommendations and policies that they should live in pairs as a minimum, the husbandry guidelines are inconsistent in providing an environment for the gregarious nature of guinea pigs. In addition, this requirement has not been studied experimentally. The demand for being near a conspecific located at the end of a ramp (that increased in angle) was measured in seven guinea pigs (in four pairs) using the maximum height and duration, to climb to reach the other guinea pig, behind a net, as a dependent variable. The experiment demonstrated that guinea pigs climbed the ramp faster and to greater heights to reach their bonded conspecific, compared to a non bonded guinea pig of the same or different sex. A visual assessment of the behaviour of the climber and receiver during each trial indicated that the climber tended to be 'cautious' and often paused before reaching the other guinea pig; while the receiver was either indifferent or 'receptive', indicated by sniffing and the absence of vocal or lunging behaviour. These results indicated that guinea pigs, although a social prey species, value specific companionship, not just any conspecific for safety—even in unnatural or potentially stressful situations. Future welfare legislation must reflect this complexity in the social behaviour of guinea pigs, and implement evidence-based husbandry guidelines to manage nuanced relationships
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