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This brief article from London Zoo’s Lifewatch magazine describes the habits and history of the alpaca, which are native to South America.
The alpaca belongs to the camel family and is a domesticated descendant of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), as is the llama (Lama glama). There are six members of the camel family, three of which are domesticated species. The dromedary camel, llama and alpaca are all domesticated, whilst the vicuna, guanaco and the Bactrian camel are wild species. Llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuna are all South American species.
The Andes of Central Peru, Southern Peru to Northern Chile and Argentina.
- The alpaca is smaller than its closest relative, the llama. Alpacas stand about 3 ft at the shoulder (compared to llamas at 4 ft) and weigh, on average, 150 lbs.
- They produce a superb heavy fleece of fine strong fibre which will grow down to the ground if not clipped. The luxurious fibre makes wonderfully soft and warm garments and is particularly appreciated by hand-knitters, whether private or involved in a cottage industry. It is said that alpaca fibre is the finest to be found on any “domesticated” animal in the world.
- Young alpaca are up on their feet within an hour of being born, and they grow from 9 kg at birth to up to 30 kg at nine months, when they are weaned.
- Naturally occurring alpaca live in groups, comprising an adult male, females and young. In each group, only the dominant male mates with the females and rival males will not be tolerated. The breeding of domesticated alpaca is far more controlled. Males and females are usually separated, with only chosen males allowed to breed.
The alpaca was domesticated by the Incas around 500 bc. Since then it has been kept for its wool, meat, skin and milk, as well as its dung which is dried for fuel. The alpaca is still a vital subsistence animal to native communities, but is increasingly farmed as a wool producer. Peru produces almost all of the world’s alpaca fibre, exporting 90 per cent of its output. The wool not exported is used for weaving ponchos, blankets and rope. As demand for their wool increases, alpacas are becoming the most important South American domesticated animal—especially as the llama’s role as a beast of burden is declining in the face of competition from motorized transport.
Alpaca numbers currently exceed three million and are rising. This is due to the increased interest in farming them throughout the world. There are estimated to be 7.7 million lamoids in South America. Domesticated llamas and alpacas make up 91 per cent of this total. Llamas are more abundant than alpacas with a population of about 3.7 million, 70 per cent of which are found in Bolivia. Ninety-one per cent of the total alpaca population lives in Peru.
Source: Bidder, Claire. “Animal Focus”. Lifewatch magazine. Zoological Society of London [http://www.weboflife.co.uk]. Winter 1998.
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Alpaca; South America
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