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Alpacas were first found in Peru over 6000 years ago.

They evolved from the wild guanaco and vicuna and for thousands of years have co-existed with humans as a domesticated livestock providing food, fuel and clothing.

Alpacas played an integral part in the culture and lifestyle of the Incas and other Indian tribes and were selectively bred for their fibre density and range of colour.

Garments made from alpaca fibre were reserved for Incan royalty.

With the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 17th century, the Incan civilization and the alpaca were almost wiped out.

All available grazing land were taken over by merino sheep that had been introduced by the Spanish and the poor alpaca was forced to higher altitudes above 4000 metres.
Although lower in numbers, these hardy alpacas adapted to the harsh climate and terrain and developed the ability to live on low protein vegetation where only the strongest survived.

Today alpacas can be found in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England and various parts of Europe.

The South American alpaca population has  now grown to several million, the population in the rest of the world is less than 10% of this total.

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17th  July 2010