Animal cruelty shock: Wooroloo Prisoners assigned to animal shelter under investigation for eating guinea pigs

Prisoners assigned to work at an animal shelter have been eating guinea pigs.

The work-release program at the prison has been suspended while jail bosses investigate the “disturbing” scandal.

The guinea pig feast began when prisoners working at the shelter were told the animals were actually quite tasty.

Inmates began slaughtering some of the disowned pets, bringing the meat back to the prison and cooking it.

The rort was uncovered when a prison staff member found a guinea pig carcass in a fridge at Wooroloo - a minimum security prison farm 45km east of Perth.

Inmates working under the so-called Section 95 work release program are now being grilled about the extent of the clandestine meat trade.

“These allegations are disturbing, and I have asked for an investigation into the actions of Section 95 prisoners and their supervision,” Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said.

“All Section 95 activities from Wooroloo in the community are suspended pending the outcome of investigations.

“It’s particularly concerning given the Section 95 community work program is an integral part of the Department’s rehabilitation and reintegration efforts, demonstrating the valuable contributions prisoners can make to Western Australian communities.”

Prison sources told The West Australian that prisoners had been able to cut the throats of guinea pigs, skin them, cook them and eat them.

The macabre meal trade was detailed in recorded calls made from Wooroloo to people outside the jail.

“An unknown amount of guinea pig meat still on carcass was brought back into the prison industries fridge, where it was found by another vocational support officer who was outraged,” a note sent to the WA Prison Officers Union said.

“This was all reported to the security manager, who attended.

“All of the above was reported to Wooroloo security, however staff have little confidence in a competent investigation, noting rumours (authorities) were aware for some time of the failings of proper supervision of prisoners when out of the prison.”

Guinea pigs are eaten regularly in South America and can be ordered at some north American restaurants. The flesh has a gamey flavour and is considered “meatier” than rabbit.

In 2021 a Tasmania couple made headlines when they revealed they had been farming guinea pigs for food.

Rees and Col Campbell, from the north-western town of Wynyard, told the ABC that eating the animals was a “kinder all-round way of eating meat”.

“It’s quite a dense meat, so … one guinea pig weighing perhaps 600g will certainly feed both Col and I a couple of meals in a stew,” Ms Campbell said.

“Everybody that we’ve fed it to has been pleasantly surprised . . . everybody has enjoyed it.”

Ms Campbell told the ABC that the reaction of dinner guests varied, with some saying: “oh, how could you do that? They’re cute!” and more adventurous diners saying: “Wow, how interesting . . . what do they taste like?”

The guinea pig scandal has tarnished a work-release program that is considered one of the WA prison system’s more successful initiatives.

Since 1998 inmates have provided several hundred thousand hours of work to local communities who could not afford to pay market rates for the services provided.

Last financial year, participants from Wooroloo contributed close to 12,000 hours of labour to local governments, bushfire mitigation services and charities.

The program allows inmates to develop employment and social skills, which boosts their chances of getting good jobs when their sentences are completed.

All participants are screened rigorously to ensure they are a minimal risk to the community.