![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Banner-Alpacas-Lavender-Headline-Photog.jpg)
About Alpacas
Alpacas originate from the Altiplano in west-central South America. They have adapted well to the UK.
![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Banner-Alpacas-Lavender-Headline-Photog.jpg)
About Alpacas
Alpacas originate from the Altiplano in west-central South America. They have adapted well to the UK.
Alpacas originate from the Altiplano in west-central South America.
Spanning the borders of Peru, Chile and Bolivia, this area of the Andes averages nearly 4000 metres above sea level, they are one of four camelid species including Vicuna, Guanaco and Llama.
They are primarily a fibre producing animal and come in two fleece styles.
![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Huacaya-1024x646.jpg)
Huacaya alpaca
(pronounced wa-ky-ya)
Huacaya have a “teddy bear” appearance due to their fibre growing perpendicularly to the skin in small bundles with a tight crimped wave.
![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Huacaya-fleece-1024x589.jpg)
![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Suri-5-1024x512.jpg)
Suri alpaca
Suri fibre hangs in luxurious dreadlocks in pencils and locks without any crimp.
![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Amberly-Suri-Locks-1024x662.jpg)
History of the alpaca industry
Historically Alpacas have produced some of the finest fibre and textiles ever known to man, hence it being referred to as “the fibre of the gods”.
![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Salts_Mill_.jpg)
Alpaca herds were decimated in numbers and quality in favour of sheep following the Spanish conquest of South America in 1532 and for the next 450 years the alpaca became a subsistence livestock for the indigenous peoples of the Andes.
Around 1945 English spinning mills were established in Arequipa and began working with alpaca fibre. Exports of alpacas from South America to the USA and Australia began in around 1990, exports to the UK began in 1996.
There are currently thought to be about three million alpacas in South America and they are also being successfully bred across the world.
![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/possible-photo-for-why-keep-Alpacas-1024x768.jpg)
Why keep alpacas?
Alpacas enable owners with small acreages the ability to diversify and earn income from their land and animals.
Buying & selling alpacas
Before buying alpacas, you are advised to join the British Alpaca Society and become part of the national network for all things alpaca.
![](https://bas-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Buying-Alpacas-1024x738.jpg)