Interesting facts about alpacas

Can you ride alpacas?

No, definitely not. Alpaca riding is considered animal abuse among respected breeders. Alpacas do not have a back strong enough to support a human. The weight of an alpaca varies between 70 - 90 kg, so it is hard to imagine that an alpaca could easily lift a person.

Are alpacas good pets?

In this case, you can say: it depends. It depends on how alpaca is treated from an early age by the breeder and how often it interacts with humans. In most cases, alpacas are nice and friendly to humans, but it also happens that alpacas stay in isolation and when you want to shorten this distance, they spit and kick. Alpacas feel the safest and best in the herd. On the other hand, the more time a breeder devotes to alpacas in their youth, the calmer they are when they are mature.

Do alpacas like to be touched?

Usually alpacas do not like human touch. If they do not want it themselves, do not force it, as they can kick or spit. It all depends, of course, on the alpaca's upbringing and personality. There are alpacas (most often neutered), which are used for alpacotherapy, which are used to the touch and presence of people.

Do alpacas smell?

The question often arises whether alpacas smell like other animals, e.g. dogs. The answer is no. Alpacas are clean animals. Here's an interesting fact, most alpacas in the pasture use the toilet in the same place. They consciously choose one point, which keeps the pasture clean and they do not move around their droppings.

Do alpacas attack humans?

Alpacas are very peaceful animals and do not attack humans. Alpacas, in most cases, are only aggressive when someone breaks their comfort zone, or tries to catch them by force when they don't want to. Alpacas may try to slightly nibble a human, but this is a gesture that is only intended to attract the attention of the breeder.

Alpacas do not have upper teeth, only blunt lower teeth. As a result, their bites are not very painful.

Do you have to comb the alpacas?

Alpacas do not need to be brushed and this is usually not done as this can upset and damage their fleece. Sometimes we brush alpacas before shearing, when we notice that the alpaca has a lot of tangles.

How long do alpacas live?

Alpacas usually live 15-20 years.

What happens if I don't trim the alpaca?

Alpacas, unlike other animals, do not lose their fleece themselves, therefore, if the breeders did not trim them, they would be one huge ball of wool. Without a summer haircut, alpacas would find it hard to withstand the high temperatures. In addition, too much fleece would hinder their movement. Another point is that without a haircut, the breeder might miss out on alpaca disease symptoms. In addition, not caring for the alpaca fleece is also a waste of money, as farmers often sell the fleece.

It should also be mentioned here that all alpacas in the world live in farms and are completely dependent on their breeders. There are no wild alpacas. And for every alpaca breeder, the welfare of the alpaca is the most important thing, so he regularly takes care of the haircut.

How long does pregnancy last for alpaca?

11-12 months