I realise the whole concept of using guinea pigs as a form of gambling seems absurd. What can a guinea pig offer the gambling addict when compared to horse racing, cock fighting or just plain old roulette? Well, I’m here to let you know that guinea pig gambling is as nerve-rackingly, heart-pumpingly exciting as much better known ways of being separated from your money.
The Andes is the birth place of the guinea pig, so it seems fitting that an Andean country should have invented a ‘sport’ involving a hand trained guinea pig, upturned plastic bowls and a PA system. Its probably a better life for the guinea pig than the fate that awaits them further south in Peru, where they end up roasted and served with a side of potatoes and veg.
Strolling down a busy street close to Bogota’s Candelaria district, a small crowd of people, curiously gathered around a semi-circle of upturned plastic bowls, caught my eye. A man was spinning some yarn to them and as I got closer I realised that the man with the microphone was in possession of several guinea pigs. My eye was no longer caught, I was hooked.
So these are the basic rules of guinea pig gambling: arrange a semi-circle of plastic bowls with a hole cut out of the front of them; take to the microphone and attract a crowd; encourage people to place money on top of the plastic bowls; build the excitement to fever pitch while choosing a guinea pig; and, finally, when the crowd is in a frenzy, release the guinea pig.
The furry little critter will dash towards the plastic bowls at full speed and, amid much excitement and hilarity, will go into one of them. The person who placed money on top of that particular plastic bowl wins and receives a cash prize.
Retrieve your guinea pig from the plastic bowl and start again.
I take my hat off to the person who invented this new sport, and I’m sure it is all harmless fun, but what happens to the guinea pigs once their gambling days are over? I doubt they are put out to stud like race horses…probably shipped to Peru.
Notes from Camelid Country 
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
That looks pretty scary for a little piggy. No wonder they head off at a run towards the first brightly coloured shelter they see. Makes us sad to see, maybe they’ve got used to it but still whee would find in frightening. Occasionally the little hoomans make us obstacle courses which can be fun and enriching. Maybe it it was more enclosed, with a pen round it whee would feel those piggies were safer?
Nibbles, Nutty, Buddy & Basil
xxxx
Still, at least they don’t eat little piggies in Colombia, their fate in Peru is entirely different!
A very good point. Whee don’t want to become a Buddy burger or Nutty nuggets!
Nibbles, Nutty, Buddy & Basil
xxxx
Those piggies are adorable! Shame I think our Alfie would just disappear off into the distance sticking two fingers up at the crowd as he went!
I want to set up a home for retired gambling piggies!
It made me laugh when I looked at the photos, one of the guinea pigs is pointing the wrong direction. A relative of Alfie’s perhaps?
Possibly 😉 Alfie is one of the toughest guinea pigs we have ever had – he takes no crap from anyone 🙂
They do that with mice on medieval fairs in Germany. You can win the mouse at the end of the day. 🙂
At least we have an origin for the ‘sport’ now, although I’d rather win a guinea pig – I think!
I will most definitely be looking for this next time I am in Bogotá! Thanks for the fun post.
The streets of Bogota are full of surprises, but this tops the list!