INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ORIGIN AN DOMESTICATION

Already the old Incas had Guinea Pigs as pets. The wild form of the Guinea Pig was also used by them as sacrificial animal and as burial object for their dead.

In the 16^th Century the cavy finally came from South America, where by the way it still lives today in it's original form, to us to Europe. Since them it has not lost it's grade of popularity. Because the Guinea Pig is a "runaway-animal" and therefore only in a small grade vicious, it is especially kept as a pet for children.

It's German name "Meerschweinchen" ("Seapiggy") was given to it, because it came to us over the sea and squeaks like a little piggy. It's English name "guinea pig", does not, like one could think, point on an Origin from Guinea, but on the price, which the animal had at it's importation (1 Guinee is about 1.5 EURO).

In it's home, South America, nowadays the guinea pig is not only a pet. Because it's meat is rich of protein, the locals also breed them, to get a good steak on their plates.
Even the excreta are used and sold as dung. 

Here in Europe, also, it is not only a comrade for children, but serves also Science as a laboratory animal. For example in research on tuberculosis, Mr. Robert Koch achieved great results with the help of guinea pigs.