Alpaca Facts

Did you know…

• Alpacas are relatives of camels, llamas, guanacos and vicuñas, and are about half the size of llamas.
• Alpacas are native to the Andes of South America.
• Alpacas come in two varieties: Suris are rarer and have very long, fine, dreadlock-type fiber. Huacayas (the type that reside at Heartland) are more common. They have thick, crimpy fiber and resemble a teddy bear when in full coat.
• Alpacas live about 15 to 25 years on average
• An alpaca’s average weight is between 100 to 175 pounds.
• At birth, an alpaca (called a cria) weighs around 15 to 17 pounds. Crias can often stand and nurse within 30 to 60 minutes following birth.
• The alpaca comes in eight basic colors – natural white, natural light fawn, natural fawn, natural light grey, natural grey, natural rose grey, natural dark brown, and black.

(If you would like to know more about alpacas, we recommend watching Inside the Alpaca Industry created by the Alpaca Industry Foundation.)