The Alpaca
Published by Alpacas are very much like sheep, but they look like a llama. They produce a coat like a sheep but it is not made of wool but fibre instead. They have long necks like a llama and are truly a funny looking species.
These animals are domesticated but once use to roam free with the wilder animals that used these as prey. Since their discovery and the realisation of the value of their coat they have been kept as farm animals just as sheep have when we discovered that their coats were made from wool. They produce fleece fibres that we still use today in clothing.
Image via Wikipedia
About the alpaca
These animals are kept in herds they are found on the level grounds up at a height of 3500m-5000m above sea level. They are found in parts of Ecuador, Peru, Chillie and Bolivia. Even though they look like Llamas and have the same habbits as them they are known as Alpacas. They are of the same family as Camels and Llamas but are of a smaller size. Alpacas have straight ears as the Llama has a slight curve to theirs, another differance is they are 1-2 feet smaller than a Llama, and their necs look out of porportion to the rest of them. They come in many different colours, over 52 colours have been discoverd to date in Peru, 12 in Australia and 16 in the United States.
These animals were used as food by the people of South America 1000’s of years ago and were considered a delicacy by the Andean inhabitants. As recient as the start of the century a new law has been put in place by the Peruvian Government banning the slaughter of these animals for meat. Because of this new law there has been a growth in smuggling these animals over the border for sale for the same purpose.
Image via Wikipedia
The behaviour of the alpaca
These Alpacas have the same temperment as a sheep they are inquisitive but they get spooked easily. They live in family groups of an alpha male, a female and their young. They are territorial animals and don’t like other intruding Alpaca’s coming into their area or approaching from behind. They retailiate with kicking with their font legs or they have the ability to spit like a camel. Thier spit is made up of sliva and acid brought up from their stomach, they reserve this disgusting habbit for other Alpaca’s but most wont hesitate to spit at humans if they are threatened. They have individual characteristics as humans do in regards spitting some find it disgusting and some just do it to clear their throat, and some would rather spit at you rather than look at you.
Liked it
On March 11, 2009 at 6:25 am
I’ve seen fields in western Kansas and part of eastern Missouri where they raise these creatures. They look kewl. Too bad about their acerbic attitudes about being touched. And this must make shearing their fur difficult too, eh?
-thestickman
On March 11, 2009 at 6:49 am
My daughter-in-law brought an Alpaca sweater from Ecuador for me. (She was there with her National Guard unit some years ago.) It is scratchier than sheep’s wool, but incredibly warm. Like all woolens, it must be dry cleaned.
On March 11, 2009 at 7:05 am
cute animals! I never heard of it before.
On March 11, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I’d never heard of the alpaca, great article and great photos.
On March 11, 2009 at 3:52 pm
never heard before… thanks for sharing your knowledge!
On March 16, 2009 at 10:34 am
The Amish farmer behind our old house owned a small herd. They had no fear of our dog and stretched their necks over the fence to eat my sunflowers and to nibble the leaves of our willow. Thanks for the article.