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Alpacas Have a Long History In the central Andes of South America, more than one million small alpaca farmers rely heavily on alpacas for their income.
Alpacas are additionally a critical component of social personality. These Peruvian households are supported by a population of 3.7 alpacas, as determined by the 2012 census conducted by the Peruvian National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI).
Between 4000 and 5000 B.C., Alpacas were domesticated. The Spanish word "Alpaca" comes from the Aymara name "Allpacu" or from the Quechuan names "Pacos" or "Pacoshas." The interaction between the ancient Peruvians and the alpacas was the subject of paintings that were painted on rocks more than 8000 years ago. Between 4000 and 5000 B.C., the first people began to domesticate alpacas. Alpacas had a significant impact on ancient Peruvian cultures.
In ancient Peruvian cultures, the use of alpaca fiber in textiles began around 2500 B.C. and grew in importance over time. In barter trading, woven textiles were frequently given as tribute to the State or to local lords in exchange for favors or services. These textiles represented various levels of power.
The Spanish conquest did not endanger alpacas.
Prior to the Spanish conquest, Peru was home to over 10 million alpacas, but only one in ten of them survived. Alpaca breeding development suffered greatly during the Spanish conquest and invasion. Alpacas were also forced to relocate to higher, colder, and drier regions as a result of the importation of cattle from other countries. The highlands of the Peruvian Andes, including Puno, Arequipa, Cuzco, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Apurimac, are home to an estimated 3.7 million alpacas, or 80% of the global alpaca population.
Numerous Andean families rely heavily on alpacas for their income.
Alpacas are an essential means of subsistence for more than one million small alpaca farmers in the central Andes of South America.
Additionally, alpacas play a significant role in cultural identity. These Peruvian households are supported by a population of 3.7 alpacas, as determined by the 2012 census conducted by the Peruvian National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI).
