HISTORY

The history of the alpaca industry in Canada must begin with a brief history of their origins in South America.

Members of the camelid family, alpacas originated over 6000 years ago from the wild vicuna and guanaco of South America. Pre-dating even the Incan Empire, alpacas and their larger cousin, the llama, were the only domesticated livestock in the New World before the arrival of the Europeans. They provided food, fuel, clothing and transportation to the Andean people of Peru, Bolivia and Chile.

During the Spanish conquest most of South America's alpacas were killed, with only a few surviving, hidden in the highest and most unreachable parts of the Altiplano. The unforgiving climate of this mountainous region produced temperatures varying from 20 degrees Celsius during the day to -20 degrees at night. Due to these hardships, the alpaca has evolved to become one of the hardiest domestic animals on earth.

Today, once again, there are a few million alpaca in South America, but only a few thousand of the animals exist outside their native countries. Most of these are located in Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Australia, but there are also growing numbers in Europe and the United Kingdom.

The alpaca industry in Canada had its beginnings in 1992, when three hundred and sixty two animals imported from Chile and quarantined in New Zealand and Australia for one and a half years, arrived in Alberta. The Canadian National Herd now stands at about 17,000 animals, and alpacas can be found from coast to coast.

Alpacas are prized for their luxurious fibre, which is stronger and much warmer than merino sheep wool. Soft and silky to the touch, the fibre is comparable to cashmere. The aim of the alpaca industry in Canada is to enlarge and improve the national herd, with a long-term goal of developing the growing fibre industry.