What's it called?
Baby alpacas are called
Cria(s)
When approaching an alpaca you should
approach slowly and calmly
should you touch/feed any alpaca you meet?
Alpacas make great pets!
False: Alpacas are herd animals and must live with other alpacas. They don't like to live in a house.
Alpaca moms talk to their babies
Mother alpacas bond with their crias through vocalizations called humming, as well as through nuzzling and nose to nose contact!
Female alpacas are called
hembra(s)
when speaking around/to an alpaca you should
talk in a calm, soothing voice
where does an alpaca NOT like to be touched?
Don't touch an alpacas head, hindquarters, tail, or toes
Alpacas will spit at you!
Truth: spitting is an alpaca's natural defense mechanism. However, alpacas typically reserve this behaviour for other animals.
Alpacas almost became extinct!
In the 16th century, the alpaca species almost became extinct due to a deadly disease brought to South America by the Spanish invaders.
male alpacas are called
machos
when touching an alpaca you should
keep your hand flat and pet gently
should you grab their fleece or hug an alpaca?
No, you should never grab or hug an alpaca, it frightens them
Alpacas and llamas are the same
False: Alpacas and llamas are separate species, though they are related.
Alpacas make friends!!
Alpacas are intelligent creatures that can recognize faces of both humans and other alpacas. They are very social and form strong bonds within their group.
Alpacas don't have fur they have
wool/fleece
when touching an alpaca you should
touch the alpaca on the top of it's back, shoulders and side of it's neck
Should you walk or stand behind an alpaca?
Shearing hurts them!
False: a yearly shearing keeps alpacas healthy and comfortable. Just like when you get a hair cut, it doesn't hurt at all.
Alpacas have soft padded feet that don't damage the grass it grazes on, contributing to them being eco-friendly grazers.
when a mother alpaca gives birth to her baby its called
unpacking
before approaching an alpaca you should ask the handler
what the alpaca prefers - just like people, they have personalities with individual likes and dislikes!
if an alpaca spits at you
Don't spit back! Just walk away
False: alpacas have been fully domesticated for thousands of years, there are no wild alpacas left in the world.
Alpacas live all over the world.