Syrian hamsters, also known as golden hamsters. It was born a contradictory animal. More precisely, it is not the rodents themselves that are paradoxical, but the attitude of humans towards them. People have been using these animals as their favorite pets for nearly 100 years. But at the same time, they ruthlessly destroy wild hamsters. What is the reason for this ambivalent attitude?
The confrontation between humans and rodents has been going on for a long time, especially in Syria. Rodents are considered malicious pests of crops such as wheat, chickpeas, lentils, barley, and some vegetables. The land of Syria is not fertile, and every grain counts here.
A hamster is capable of hiding up to a few hundred kilograms of grain or seeds in a short lifespan of 2-3 years! You can put 50 grams of food in your cheek bag. Although the hamster itself weighs a little more than 100 grams.
That is why farmers ruthlessly reduce the number of Syrian hamsters. Not only traps and poisonous bait were used: but people purposefully burned and ploughed after harvest and stocked livestock there, and wild hamster food became scarce.
Domestic hamsters weigh twice as much as wild ones – some pets can gain up to 250 grams. In appearance, differences have also cumulated: the color of the hair and the number of changes are unimaginable. There are curly, long-haired, smooth-haired satin animals whose fur is exceptionally smooth and shiny.
But domestic hamsters still maintain rodent habits. In nature, rodents live in 9-meter-long burrows. Animals often mark territories and closely monitor borders. Any strange hamster will be immediately deported, except for female hamsters in heat. The breeding season starts in February. The female chooses the strongest male as her husband. Good genes are the only thing a dad can give his child.
The gestation period in hamsters lasts only 16 days. But up to 20 babies can be born. Mom won't be with them for long, she'll feed them for three weeks — until adulthood. Hamsters are considered good mothers, but if the nest is disturbed, the female can easily arrange a bloody slaughter. Don't look at these cute eyes - she can eat all the cubs without a trace of regret!
Then the first showdown began. The siblings parted ways and began to build their personal lives. If the animals are not kept in captivity at this time, they will begin to fight with the heavens and the earth until the end of their lives. With such survival skills, it is surprising that hamsters have turned into pets. What's even more surprising is that although humans are not kind to wild hamsters, hamsters are tolerant of humans.