A group of inmates at Wooroloo Prison farm in Australia are facing allegations of consuming the animals they were tending to while on volunteer duty. Prison guards discovered guinea pig meat and carcasses stored in a refrigerator at the facility, located approximately 30 miles from Perth.
Reports indicate that the prisoners took the abandoned animals from the farm, slaughtered them, and then brought the meat back into the prison to cook and share with other inmates. While some may find the idea of eating guinea pigs repulsive, in certain regions like South America and Asia, these creatures are considered a delicacy, likened to tasting similar to rabbit but with a more robust flavor.
Following this incident, the work-release program at the prison has been suspended, and those involved in poaching the animals for the inmate meat trade are undergoing extensive questioning by authorities. Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce stated that all community work activities from Wooroloo have been halted pending further investigations, emphasizing the importance of such programs in the rehabilitation and reintegration efforts of prisoners.
Prior to this event, the WA prison system had praised the work-release initiative as a successful program. In a separate incident, a New York restaurant gained attention in 2024 for offering guinea pig dishes on its menu, which received positive feedback from customers.
The restaurant manager highlighted the popularity of the dish, describing it as superior to chicken and rabbit, with the head being particularly favored. The establishment had to keep up with high demand by ordering guinea pigs in large quantities from a farm in Ecuador. The restaurant owners, originally specializing in rotisserie chicken, introduced guinea pig dishes during the COVID-19 pandemic to cater to the Ecuadorian community’s desire for a taste of home.