Alpacas a
cherished treasure of the ancient Inca civilization.
They played a central part in the Inca culture that was located
on the high plateaus and mountains of South America.
Alpacas, and their cousins, the Llama, have been domesticated for some 5,000
years. Alpacas produce fine, luxurious cashmere like fleece, once reserved for Inca royalty as an indication of wealth and nobleness. The larger Llama was
used to carry cargo on the steep Andean trails. Together these amazing animals
provided the food, fuel, clothing, and transportation for a civilization that
thrived in an otherwise hostile environment.
The Alpaca was almost annihilated when the Spanish conquered the
Incas. Alpacas survived only because of their importance to the
indigenous people and their incredible ability to live at altitudes and under
conditions that cannot sustain the life of other domestic animals.
In the mid 1800's the English rediscovered Alpaca fiber when
studies showed that Alpaca fiber was stronger than sheep's wool and that it's
strength did not diminish with its fineness. This was the beginning of the
textile industry for Alpaca fiber and today the demand for this luxurious fiber
is very high. Often compared with Cashmere,
Alpaca fiber will always have a place in the world market and it is this that
makes raising Alpacas a viable business for today and in the future.
