History of the Alpaca
Alpacas, native to South America, have been domesticated for thousands of years. They were originally bred from the wild vicuna by indigenous tribes. Similar to the alpaca, the vicuna lives in the Andes mountains at a high altitude. They are a cousin to the camel, along with llamas. Alpacas have played a vital role in day to day life of the Andean and other indigenous peoples. Their value was first recognized by the Incan people. The animal became such a high commodity that Incan royalty and government quickly took tight control of the species. They were not only used for food, fuel, clothing, and transportation, but also played roles in important religious ceremonies. Alpacas thrived during this time, until the Spanish invasion in 1532 when 98% of the population was killed by invaders. Unlike the llama, alpacas are bred strictly for their coat, not to be working animals. Like camels, they are known to spit when unhappy, but will hum when content. Nowadays, alpacas have been brought from their native home to the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia.
Environmental Impact of the Alpaca
High quality fleece is not the only great thing about alpacas, they also have a minimal impact on the environment. Alpacas are one of the most eco friendly animals on the planet. They are very docile herbivores. While other animals eat tree bark and leaves, negatively affecting the tree population, alpacas prefer to graze on native grass. The grass is not pulled up by the roots, but nibbled off above ground. Unlike cattle and camels, they have padded feet. This means when they roam, no terrain is torn up or destroyed. Their three part stomach ensures low methane production, and they have pH neutral feces which serves as a great fertilizer.
