Quick answer
Key facts about alpaca — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Fleece and shearing
Alpaca fibre is fine, warm, and lacks the lanolin found in sheep wool, making it popular for hypoallergenic textiles. Animals are shorn annually, yielding several kilograms of fleece. Huacaya alpacas have crimped, fluffy fleece; Suri alpacas have silky, dreadlock-like locks.
Herd social structure
Alpacas are deeply social and should never be kept alone — a solitary alpaca becomes stressed and vulnerable. Herds establish a clear pecking order through posturing and occasional spitting. Females usually bear a single cria after an 11-month gestation.
Andean heritage
Alpacas were domesticated from the wild vicuña thousands of years ago in the central Andes. Traditional herding communities still manage alpaca flocks for fibre and meat at altitudes where other livestock struggle.
Keeping alpacas
Alpacas need secure fencing, parasite management, hoof trimming, and shelter from extreme heat. They use a communal dung pile, which simplifies pasture management. They are livestock rather than house pets and suit owners with land and herd-management experience.