FlowerDaleAlpacas.net
Title
Flowerdale Estate Alpacas :: Huacaya Alpaca Information, Farming, Sales, Breeding
Description
Alpacas have had a turbulent history. For thousands of years, the alpaca has resided in the mists of the high Andes, treasured for its fibre by the ancient Incan herdsman. Their wealth was measured by the number if alpacas they owned. These Peruvian people clothed their nobleman and royalty in multi-coloured garments made from the fabulous fleece of these wonderful animals. A thousand years before the Roman Empire, a thriving economy existed, based on selective breeding and the production of alpacas that are thought to have even better fleeces than the finest alpacas today.
The Spanish conquest saw the decimation of the breed. The arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 17th century resulted in the orderly genocide of the Incan people and their alpacas. The alpaca, prized for almost 4000 years as a source of high quality fibre, was seen by the Spaniards as a competitor for grazing lands available to their sheep. The alpaca therefore became a source of meat and was slaughtered almost to the point of extinction.
The surviving Incans were driven into the highest parts of the inhospitable Andes mountains, taking their most prized alpacas with them into exile.
Languages
English
Contact
- Project Art & Photo
-
- Seville Victoria
- Australia 3139
-
- +61.359642178
