...a mama and cria Suri Alpaca.
...the mama is newly sheared. Her fleece will be made into very fine yarn.
...another alpaca came up behind me and nuzzled my cheek. Her little snout was so soft. She was incredibly gentle.
The baby had to check out my camera bag...
A little about the history of alpacas...
Archeological evidence shows alpacas were domesticated for their fiber over 6,000 years ago by the Quechua Indians of Peru in South America. Breeding standards under the Incan Empire were stringent, and the fleece production reached its height in the 11th and 12th centuries. Most accounts hold that the quality of the fleece produced back then has never been matched. When the Spanish Conquistadors invaded in the 1500s, they slaughtered the alpacas, preferring to raise sheep from their homeland instead. To save themselves and the alpacas, the Quechua Indians fled to the highlands of Peru, protecting the gentle animal from certain extinction.
I really enjoyed the time I spent at the Alpaca Bella Suri Farm photographing and playing with the alpacas. I usually only photograph wildlife, birds and flowers. This was the first time I spent some time with fleecy domesticated creatures, and I loved it. Next up...horses. I love horses and would like to photograph them one of these days...
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