Alpaca History...
The camelid family originated from a single camel-like animal some 40 million
years ago right here on the North American prairies. The ice age spread them to the corners of
the earth where they developed into the one humped & two humped camels of
Asia & Africa and into the wild guinaco & wild vicuna in South America.
Through selective breeding practices of these wild species and advanced and
accurate record keeping of the ancient South American civilizations including the Incas, alpacas & llamas
were developed and domesticated close to 6000 years ago making them the earliest
known domesticated animals . Alpacas were quite
concentrated around the region of Lake Titicaca bordering Peru, Bolivia and
Chile. These wonderful gentle creatures own a fascinating & tragic history.
Alpacas were cared for with religious regard for thousands of years by their native pastoralists. Ancient South American civilizations, who’s livelihood depended on the domesticated camelids, believed alpacas were a gift from Pachamama (Mother Earth). If alpacas were mistreated Pachamama would take them back and mankind would perish. This folklore was nearly fulfilled more than once. Alpacas were slaughtered to near extinction and their native keepers pushed to the brink of society by the conquering Spanish in the mid 1500s. To survive they were forced to hide in the high rugged and harsh altiplano where no European man nor beast could survive.
These hardy creatures adapted and eventually made a moderate comeback on large Peruvian farms where 90% of the world’s alpacas were found. But alas, political reform swept Peru and wealthy absentee landowners chose to destroy their herds rather than have them confiscated by nationalists.
In the mid 1980’s alpacas and the research centre dedicated to improving life and quality of these truly unique creatures were once again targeted and destroyed, this time by terrorists.
Each time the alpacas were destroyed so also were the superior genetics that resulted from years worth of selective breedings & record keeping.
The Alpaca branch of the camelid family made their way back to North America
in the late 1980s when some entrepreneurial folks brought the first alpacas into
United States and Canada. At about the same time they were making their debut in Australia
and Europe. The first major importation did not get into Canada until early
1990's. As of Dec. 2002 there are about 8000 alpacas registered in Canada. These
gentle and hardy creatures are moving into the hearts and homes of more & more Canadians from coast to coast at an
unprecedented rate.
Their history has been a tragic one but their future looks very promising as research to unlock the mysteries of these unique creatures continues around the world now.
If you have questions or comments contact us
(click on the logo)
Don & Lynn Hilderman,
Duval, Sask. Canada