| |
The alpaca is a member of the camel family (Camelidae), of which there are two kinds. One is the large camel with the hump on the back, the other is related to the llama . There are two original wild varieties of llama, the guanaco and the vicuña, and two domesticated varieties, the llama and the alpaca.
The world’s population of alpacas is almost 4 million and the majority resides in the South Peruvian Andes Mountains at 3000- 5000 meters above sea level.
The alpaca lives in a very harsh climate with temperatures varying 50 degrees during the day – from minus 20 degrees during the night to 30 degrees during the day.
There is some uncertainty concerning the origin of the alpaca but it is believed that it was bred from the Incas between 5000-8000 years ago.
Facts about the alpaca:
Longevity: 15-20 years
Weight: 55-65 kilograms
Height from ground to shoulders: 80-100 cm
Ready to breed: 1-2 years
Period of gestation: 11 months
Number of kids: One kid every 2 years
|
