In South America there are four different types of camelids: llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas. All four of these animals can be found in Peru!
South American camelids are two-toed herbivores that are related to the old world camel species, Arabian and Bactrian camels. However, South American camelids lack the one-hump/two-hump characteristics of other camels and are much smaller. Moreover, out of the four South American camelids, only two have been domesticated, though the fibers of all four have contributed to Peru’s rich textile traditions.
Llama
The llama is the largest South American camelid and also the most well-known. When many people think of Peru, oftentimes their first thoughts go to llamas and Machu Picchu. This animal was domesticated centuries ago and has been used as a pack animal since pre-Inca times. While llama wool is not as fine as that of other South American camelids, its wool and leather is still used for making clothing. The llama is distinguishable by its long legs and crooked ears.
Alpaca
The alpaca is native to the Peruvian highlands and is the second domesticated South American camelid. The alpaca’s natural habitat can reach an altitude of 4,500 meters (15,000 feet) above sea level where weather conditions are harsh and can change very rapidly. The alpaca’s fleece, which is soft, light, waterproof and resistant to solar radiation, has allowed the animal to adapt to its extreme environment. There are two breeds of alpaca: the huacaya which has dense, curly wool; and the suri which has long, wavy wool. While the alpaca is best known for its fleecy wool, it is also important to note that in Peru, alpacas are often raised for their meat. In fact, alpaca meat is very tasty and has almost no cholesterol, making it a delicacy in the Cusco region of Peru.
Guanaco
The guanaco is a South American camelid that most closely resembles the llama; however, the guanaco has not been domesticated. It has short, reddish-brown fur, a grey face and small ears. Guanaco wool is very fine, resembling high-quality cashmere. These animals typically live in big groups of males or small groups of females that are led by a dominant male. Moreover, they are the only South American camelid that is able to easily adapt to different environments and altitudes, surviving both at sea level and high up in the Andes.
Vicuña
The last, smallest and rarest species of South American camelid is the vicuña, whose luxurious wool is considered to be the finest animal fiber in the world. In fact, it has been told that textiles made from vicuña wool were reserved only for Inca royalty. Today in Peru, vicuñas are still sheared for their wool in annual ceremonies called Chaku. During this ceremony, the locals form a human chain and herd the vicuñas into a corral where the vicuñas can be examined and selected for shearing. Due to its short fiber, each vicuña can only be sheared once every two years. One kilogram of freshly-shorn vicuña wool can be sold for approximately US$500. Because of the coveted nature of vicuña fleece, this animal was nearly hunted to extinction in the 1960’s. However, as a result of conservation and protection programs, especially in the reserves of Pampa Galeras and Salinas y Aguada, the vicuña is making a comeback in Peru and throughout South America.
If you’re planning a trip to Peru, you’re likely to encounter camelids along the way. Now that you know a little about the history and characteristics of the four South American camelids, you should know if you are looking at a llama, alpaca, guanaco or vicuña!
