MuckFlash

Cuzco, PE -2 March 2009- Staff. In a special ceremony in rural Peru, municipal authorities recognized the newest- and smallest- hero of the city. During the gathering, Pinchot, a Guinea pig from a second grade class in one of the many hillside barrios surrounding Cuzco, was given a key to the city and permanent diplomatic immunity in exchange for “heroism of the first degree.”

Pinchot’s fairy tale story began several weeks ago when a small fire broke out in his classroom, a not uncommon occurrence in rural Peru, where many facilities, like kitchens and boiler rooms, are included in a one room floor plan. As smoke filled the room and panic gripped the class, however, Pinchot somehow managed to leap free from his cage and proceed to the front of the class, where he reigned in the chaos.

“It was terrible,” recalled Juan Martinez, the teacher. “The smoke was from the oil heater and was very thick and spread very fast. In no time, we were lost inside.”

As the children and their teacher stumbled around the choking smoke in the small, poorly ventilated mud brick building, they struggled to find the exit. The situation was quickly becoming deadly as the smoke and flame flooded the room, but Pinchot, perched on the teacher’s desk at the front of the room, started clucking and chirping at regular intervals. As the children drew closer to his steady siren calls, he led them steadily to the door and out of the burning building in small groups.

After several harrowing trips, Pinchot was able to lead all of the children and the teacher to safety. Some children suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation but were otherwise unharmed. Pinchot himself had some of his fur singed away, though now there is no shortage of families willing to feed, dress and care for the plucky rodent.

“This tiny creature has such a large heart,” said Francisco Ferrera, the mayor of the Barrio, “We can all learn from his courage, and for that we will keep him close to our spirits and out of our pots.”

In traditional Peruvian cuisine, the guinea pig is considered a delicacy.