After a while we noticed that not all llamas and alpacas looked the same and that they differed in their colouring and hairy coverings textures.
We learnt from our guide, that the three different breeds of animals live on the farm are llamas, alpacas and vicunas. They are similar because they all belong to the camelid species of animals that are indigenous to Latin America. Though they are related there are some big differences between the breeds.
We got to see the alpacas and llamas up close, but the vicunas stayed in pens up on the hill, so we only saw them from a distance.
Of the three types of animals on the farm llamas are the largest but alpacas are the most common. Peru actually has 90 percent of the world's alpaca population. Alpacas are known for having padded hooves gentle enough on the ground that they do not erode the soil.
There really are a lot of differences between llamas and alpacas. The physical difference between a llama and an alpaca is more noticeable from their side-view. Llamas also have longer faces whilst Alpacas have a much flatter face with a tiny snout. Llamas have long banana-shaped ears while alpacas have shorter spear-shaped ears.
The llama is roughly twice the size of the alpaca so they have been used as guard animals for alpacas. The adult height of llamas is around 1.8 cm, whilst adult alpacas are about99cm high and the vicuas are only about 85cm tall.
Another distinguishing feature is that llamas have coarse outer coats that cover a softer second coat underneath. This gives them a shaggy appearance similar to a sheep. Their wool is sometimes made into ropes, rugs and other fabrics and the llama's hide is used to create leather products like bags, belts, straps and shoes. Llama meat may appear on the odd restaurant table but it is mostly used for producing "charqui", a dried and salty meat we know as "jerky" which hikers use today. The indigenous people would dry and salt their meat to prevent from becoming rancid in the long, dry summer conditions.
Alpacas have been specifically bred for their fine single coats of high quality, fluffy fleece which comes in a variety of 22 colours. Their wool is woven into fine fibre products that are found at many of the continent's hand-made clothing markets. Alpacca meat is one of the healthiest around with very little fat and low cholesterol levels. It is found on menus throughout Peru in the form of steaks, grilled skewers or hamburgers.
Llamas been domesticated by the local people as a pack animal and they are still used as pack animals today because of their larger size and agility. They can reach certain parts of the tough Andean terrain that motored vehicles are unable to negotiate and they are cheaper to run than motor vehicles.
Both animals are extremely hardy and adaptable to most climates, elevations and conditions and they have been domesticated for centuries. Feeding an alpaca is practical and economical for the local people because the animals tend to browse rather than graze on food. This means that their mouths "cut" the grass instead of pulling it out by the root.-they are Peru's natural native lawn mowers.
Alpacas are social herd animals that live in family groups which get along with llamas, goats, sheep, donkeys, horses, cats and family dogs so they make great pets and farm animals.
One last thing we learnt was that there are two distinct breeds among alpacas.
They are the Huacaya Alpaca breed the Suri Alpaca breed.
Vicuas are the third type of animal kept at the Awana Kanacha farm. Vicuas are the national symbol of Peru and they are a protected endangered species since they were hunted ruthlessly for their tender meat by various invaders over the years. Whilst the Vicuas resembles an alpaca in its small, deer-like frame it is considered wild and can be seen in the Peruvian highlands. They're the graceful and shy members of the camelid species who are easily perturbed but they have remarkable hearing and are rarely seen. Its wool is valued for its extremely long and fine quality fur which spins into beautifully, soft, sort-after yarn.
Vicuas are easily perturbed but they have remarkable hearing and are rarely seen in the wild because they flee before the can be seen. The Awana Kanacha project seeks to provide safe breeding pens for these endangered animals so that number can be increased across Peru.
