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This article is from the Llamas & Alpacas FAQ, by Michael Shealy and William Bagwell with numerous contributions by others.

01 Where do llamas & alpacas come from?

Llamas and alpacas come from Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, in the high plains areas called the " Altiplano" (elevation: 8,000'-15,000' ). Llamas were first brought to the United States by William Randolph Hearst in the 1920's for his personal zoo. Alpacas were imported much more recently, beginning in the '80s. Llamas and alpacas were domesticated from their wild counterparts, the Guanaco and Vicuna. 6,000-7,000 years ago by the Quechua Indians and their fiber and structure were improved by the Incas.

 

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llamas, alpaca, mammal, animal