This (guinea) pig can fly: 13-year-old girl trains her pet to make a record-breaking jump
Out in San Francisco, California, USA, a teenage girl has taught her guinea pig to fly.
Well, almost!
13-year-old Zoe Hearn (USA) and her grey-and-white guinea pig, Cora, have been practising bar jumps for the last few years – and last October, they were able to reach record-breaking heights.
After dangling a small piece of lettuce above the homemade high-bar, the talented piggie leapt 10.5 in (26.67 cm) straight into the air, before landing on the top bar and hopping gracefully back down on to the ground to enjoy his veggie prize.
To date, this is the highest bar jump by a guinea pig ever recorded – taking the prize from Gabriela Pérez and her intelligent pet Willow in Spain, who jumped 9.44 in (24 cm) back in January 2023.
Zoe – the proud owner of three guinea pigs named Coco, Chloe, and Cora – started training her pets to jump one day after a friend wondered if it were even possible.
Turns out that Cora loved leaping for treats, and the pair began their lessons right after the family built a safe wooden bar for their pet to hop over.
As soon as Zoe would hold out a piece of lettuce or a tiny blueberry, the athletic pig would fly across the bar to grab the treat – and gradually, they were able to raise the height of the pole to a record-setting level.
Finally, on 22 October, Cora’s proud owner and her gifted guinea pig were ready to take on the title.
Her family helped her adjust the height of the bar to exactly 10.5 in (26.67 cm), and they carefully set up the space so that the pig would have enough room to make her record-setting leap.
Then they all shouted with joy, as they watched the graceful guinea pig deftly jump over the bar and fly in the direction of that delicious-looking lettuce!
“Good job, Cora!” said Zoe, pleased that her pig was able to take the crown so confidently.
Besides making these record-setting jumps, Zoe’s family says that their sweet guinea pig loves blueberries, and hanging out with her other friends Coco and Chloe.
They also mentioned that she particularly enjoys listening to the sounds of her trainer Zoe practising her violin – so we hope that the talented pet was rewarded well for her accomplishment with lots of yummy fruit and pretty music.
Congratulations, Zoe and Cora – you are both Officially Amazing!