In South America, alpaca fibers are used for clothing and blankets. They are taken from wool bearing animals of the wild Vicuna.
Currently, alpaca are bred in many countries all across the globe. These animals are well-known for their virtues of friendliness and the commerciality of their fibres.
Clothes made from alpaca fibers are known for their softness, comfort and durability. Due to its harmless nature, it is used in manufacturing garments for children.
Approximately three million animals are estimated to live in Peru. Exports of these animals to other countries have become a matter of concern for the country.
Estimates of the CEPES (Peruvian Centre for Social Studies) state that around 65,000 families in the Andean regions rely on the alpaca for their livelihood.
Export of the alpaca was banned during the early 90s by the Peru Government, but was later liberalized during the late 90s.
Possibilities exist that; other countries that buy the alpaca could pose a threat to the traditional alpaca industry in Peru, which makes it of utmost importance to protect and preserve rare animals of their native lands.