17/07/2026
A sad day yesterday.
Found Zeno (right) had passed away overnight.
This was a day I was dreading ... when one pig in a very bonded pair passes, leaving the remaining pig alone.
I removed Zeno's body & Ming moved to the spot and sat there still, for such a long time, that I began to worry.
I decided to introduce to him a quiet, young blind boar, Magoo. Ming continued to sit until Magoo 'nosed' him all over. Ming then popcorned (something I'd never witnessed him do before!) and stood close to Magoo, both eating happily together.
The more you know about guinea pigs, the less you know!
This reaction was unexpected. Ming and Zeno had lived here together for 2 and a half years. Velcro pigs, love buddies, so very very attached to each other. They came here after being dumped in Cairns and then attacked by a dog. They survived that trauma and went on to be award winners at the Cairns Show. Zeno had an appetite (and weight) that knew no bounds! A huge gorgeous boy.
I'm hoping Ming's journey with his new buddy will be as beautiful as the one he shared with Zeno.
RIP darling boy.