What are Alpacas?

The alpaca isn't just another adorable animal.....

• Today, the alpaca is found indigenously only in South America, with the highest population concentrations in the Andean regions of Chile, Peru and Bolivia.
• Alpacas are members of the Camelid family, which includes Camels, Llamas, Guanacos, Alpacas and Vicuñas.
• They are originally from the Andean region, in particular from Chile, Peru and Bolivia.
• Unlike sheep's wool that contains significant amounts of waste material and lanolin, alpaca contians no lanolin and is usally a relatively clean, dry fiber.
• Alpaca fiber is stronger and more resilient than the finest sheep's wool, warmer than wool for the same weight, and is prized for its unique, silky texture.
• There are two types of alpacas... huacaya, which has fleece with a waviness or crimp, and suri, which has no crimp and the fibers wrap around eachother to form lustrous locks.
• They were introduced to the US in 1984 and imported sporadically until 1998, when the Alpaca Registry Inc. (ARI) closed registration to new imported alpacas.
• Alpaca pregnancies last 335 days and they deliver one baby, which are called crías (Spanish for baby mammal).
  

Interested in learning more? Check out the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association website for tons of information about alpacas and how to get started in the alpaca industry.