Alpacas are members of the Camelid family, other members include camels and llamas. Alpacas are smaller than llamas and are distinguished by smaller ears and a ‘blunt’ face. They are generally domesticated for their fleece and are found around the world, originating in Peru and western Bolivia. Female alpaca give birth to just one baby a year, called a cria. The cria weighs just 9kg and will walk soon after birth. Alpacas spit at each other to signal displeasure. Their spit is not actual ‘spit’, it is the last thing they ate.

Communal dung piles help alpacas control their internal parasite. Generally, males are tidier with fewer dung piles than females who tend to stand in a line and all go at once. One female will approach the dung pile and begin to urinate and/or defecate, and the rest of the herd will often follow. Because of their preference for using a dung pile, some alpacas have been successfully house-trained.

Alpacas were domesticated around 6000 years ago by the ancient Incans. They were seen as a gift from Pachamama, a goddess of the earth and fertility. Alpacas assumed a religious significance with their form, appearing in many religious objects. With the Spanish conquest of South America, up to 90% of alpaca herds were wiped out in an effort to control the local populations. In the mid 19th century, Alpacas gained popularity in Europe and have since become a viable industry in many countries across the globe. There are no known wild alpacas, and its closest living relative is the vicuña.

The National Zoo and Aquarium is home to two males: Hannibal and George.