We recently took a trip to a local alpaca farm (how many people can say they’ve ever done that?)!! I never had; actually, I never even knew there was such a thing! But I learned about a nearby one and knew we had to go check it out! It was a fun experience for sure! I forget the exact number, but there were lots of alpaca mommies and babies there (plus one llama, which Jaden loved seeing because the book Llama Llama Mad at Mama is one of his absolute favorites)! Jaden got to touch one of the baby alpacas and we could barely tear Elijah away from the fence! They loved it so much and we learned some very interesting things about these amazing animals! Here are some pictures from the day.
Alpaca Facts (just in case you're curious and don't have your own local alpaca farm :o)...
- Alpacas are a domesticated member of the camelid family, and a cousin of the llama.
- They have a cashmere-like fleece. Garments made from alpaca fiber are known throughtout the world as being soft, warm and durable, lightweight, and lustrous.
- An adult alpaca stands about 3-feet tall at the shoulders and can weigh between 100 - 150 pounds.
- Alpacas make wonderful companion animals, are easily trained, and are gentle enough to be handled by children.
- Alpacas are in such high demand that a high-quality female can range between $10,000.00 and $20,000.00. A high-quality superior male can cost over $50,000.oo
- Alpaca lifespan is 15-25 years.
- Average gestation is 342 days; average birth weight is 15-20 pounds.
- Alpacas are considered disease-resistant animals.
Looks really fun! My kids would love that. How far away is it from El Paso? We are doing all the "outdoor" stuff before it gets blazing hot here. :)
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