As I described in my previous post, we are not going to be promoting guinea pigs("Cuye" in Spanish) in our Small Animals project in Bolivia. While guinea pigs are a traditional Incan food, and are appreciated throughout the Andes when they appear on the plate, they are considered too much trouble to raise. They are prodigious eaters, and it is difficult to provide them with enough grass to keep them happy. So the guinea pigs get out of their pens and into the fields and eat and destroy the farmers’ crops. We have adapted on the fly, and are now working with chickens and sheep, which are much more appreciated by the farmers, and guinea pigs are out of the picture. But before I say adios to the guinea pigs, I would like to give them the last word, from this song from Moxy Fruvous.

Guinea Pig

Don’t ya tell me what you’re putting in my lunch box

Don’t tell me what your feeding me today

Don’t fill my head with trouble while I’m scarfin’ down a cheese soufle

I wanna be a new, original creation

A cross between a moose, a monkey, and a fig

I’m ready Monsanto

Let me be your guina pig...

Merry Christmas to All,

Peter