Quick Take
- One alpaca's perfectly timed glance at the camera creates the kind of moment you can't script, and it happens exactly when you'd least expect it. See the viral moment →
- Alpacas can clear fencing under certain conditions, and what triggers this behavior might surprise you. Find out what triggers jumping →
- The last alpaca in the herd does something that makes the whole clip, and the camera catches it at just the right second. Watch the final alpaca →
- Alpaca fleece comes in far more natural colors than most people realize, and the official count is likely to catch you off guard. Discover the fleece color count →
Some animals seem to know exactly when a camera is pointed their way. Anyone who has sat through a school recital knows the type: one kid spots the family phone and suddenly turns the performance up to 11. Alpacas can give off the same energy. We can’t know what they’re thinking, of course, but the group in the video below certainly knows how to make an entrance.
Alpacas Show Off For the Camera
The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated South American camelid with deep roots in the Andes of South America. Alpacas are plant eaters that spend much of their time grazing, and in human care their diet is built mainly around grass or hay. In the clip above, a small herd heads toward an open gate while the person filming waits on the other side.
Then one of the alpacas reaches a muddy patch and simply launches over it. The person behind the camera starts laughing as the rest of the herd follows, with each alpaca making its own attempt to clear the mud. Around the 14-second mark, the last one jumps while glancing toward the camera, creating the kind of perfectly timed moment that makes the whole clip.
How High Can Alpacas Jump?
Peru is home to about 4.6 million alpacas, more than 80% of the world’s population.
©Rolf Barbakken/Shutterstock.com
Alpaca fleece comes in a surprisingly wide range of natural colors. The Alpaca Owners Association officially recognizes 16, including white, beige, several shades of fawn and brown, black, and gray. That variety is easy to see in alpaca herds, where two animals standing next to each other can look completely different.
Alpacas are prey animals, and their primary defense against danger is usually to flee. For animals kept on farms, good fencing also needs to account for local predators. Depending on the region, threats can include dogs, wolves, coyotes, and bears. That makes fencing important not only for keeping alpacas where they belong, but also for helping keep potential predators out.
According to the New South Wales Department of Education, sheep fencing about 1.2 meters, or roughly 3.9 feet, high is generally adequate for alpacas. The agency notes that alpacas can jump 1-meter fencing when stressed or seeking a mate. It also advises against using barbed wire and recommends keeping fencing in good condition to reduce the risk of injury.
