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Alpaca

Vicugna pacos

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46.4782, 6.8203

Field Notes

Description:

An alpaca spotted here well away from the Andes. Alpacas have become popular in Switzerland and are bred for their fiber. Even llamas are now also seen as pack animals on hiking routes!

Habitat:

Grassy paddock

Notes:

Seen in a paddock close to my home where you would normally see dairy cows. Male, part of a group of 4. Came to check me out at the edge of the paddock but did not spit!

Reference Links:

Alpaca

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (25)
DanielePralong
I did like Ecuador Juan and MJ! I went to Chimborazo, Riobamba, the Napo river, Otavalo and nearby volcanoes. This was before I turned to digital photography... I'll have to come back!
lori.tas
I used to spin, but now we keep just a few mostly as pets. We have four blacks and one white and brown one.
DanielePralong
I've even seen some in Queensland Lori! You'd wonder about the appropriateness of the climate for them there... Tassie sounds much better! Do you breed them for fiber?
lori.tas
I've got five down in Tasmania (where they are very popular), so they are literally all over the globe at this point.
DanielePralong
Thanks Juan and MJ. These have become so popular in Europe... fortunately I also saw them where they rather belong: your country!
The MnMs
is very pretty and those dreamy eyes... :-)
peter
Spotting of the day! "Part of the camel family, Alpacas were among the first animals to be ever domesticated over 6,000 years ago." http://facebook.com/projectnoah/posts/215001631874846 http://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/86087809722630145
yulia8473
I would say he has a great future as a model!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Earth Week 2011
Mission
Captive Animals

Tags

Photographed
PublishedApril 29, 2011

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