Here is some information about this emblematic animal of Peru.
Native to South America, the alpaca is one of the four species of Andean camelids. Like its ancestor the vicuña, the alpaca lives at high altitudes in arid and sometimes difficult conditions. It is found in large quantities in Peru.
Arriving in North America in the 80s and 90s, there have been farms in Quebec for several decades. Animal still little known, breeders are few and especially in small numbers. The animal acclimatizes very well to our cold winters protected by its warm fleece.
Alpacas are gregarious animals. A hierarchy is established between them. They are curious animals but prefer to stay at a respective distance from humans. They communicate through small sounds called humming. In case of danger, a shrill noise from the alert animal quickly warns the whole herd of a potential risk. If sometimes, we see him spit, it is rather to indicate to another alpaca to respect the hierarchy than to direct towards the human.
There are two species of alpacas. The Huacaya alpaca and the Suri. The Huacaya is the species found mainly in Quebec. The difference is in the fleece. The huacaya is rather soft and more usual. The fleece of the suri is made up of small twists. Both are pretty, it’s just a matter of taste.
The female is pregnant on average 345 days before giving birth to her cria. She will take care of him for six months, after which he is weaned. Ideally, births are between May and August to allow the cria to take advantage of the mild weather. In addition, he will have the time necessary to have a nice fleece provided in order to be well protected for the winter season to come.
Alpaca fiber is a premium product that has always been sought after. There was a time when it was considered a sign of wealth. Moreover, royalty was a great user of this magnificent fiber.
Why is she so sought after? 100% natural fiber, it does not contain lanolin like sheep’s wool and less likely to create irritation on the skin. The fibers are naturally water repellent, very warm and above all very soft. We let you go to the virtual store to see its use.