Manorville, NY - In celebrating the births of two Patagonian cavies recently, the Long Island Game Farm is giving one lucky child a chance to win a prize pack in its Patagonian cavy naming contest. The winner receives a family season pass, a T-shirt and a basket of goodies, courtesy of the Game Farm.
On July 1, one of the Patagonian cavies gave birth to two babies at the Game Farm. The Patagonian cavy is the third largest rodent (behind the capybara and the beaver) with a height of two feet, a length of two feet and a weight of 35 pounds. It looks like a cross between a rabbit and a kangaroo, with its hind legs that are slightly larger than the front, a long face, large eyes and slightly pointed ears. It has four toes on its front feet and three on the back; all toes are equipped with a sharp claw.
The Patagonian cavy can walk on all fours, hop like a rabbit and even bounce up and down. When startled, the cavy can leap six feet straight up and can run as fast as 35 miles per hour. Native to the pampas of central and southern Argentina, the Patagonian cavy prefers arid grasslands and brushlands with plenty of open space. They communicate with each other through grunts, grumbles and screams.
"We love to have the children and the community help us to name these lovely animals," said Melinda Novak, Co-Owner, Long Island Game Farm. "I encourage all children who have never visited the Game Farm before to enter the contest."
The deadline is July 31. Children can mail their entries to: Long Island Game Farm, P.O. Box 97, Manorville, NY 11949. For more information, call (631) 878-6644 or visit www.longislandgamefarm.com.
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* Photo is available upon request.
The Long Island Game Farm was founded in 1970 by Stanley and Diane Novak and is located on 25 acres of land in Manorville. The Park has grown over the years and has served as a frequent destination of school children that have grown up on Long Island. Each year, thousands of guests visit the park.