All the way south

I’d like to formally declare that Alpaca are now my favorite animals.  I’m sorry penguins, but you had a good run.  I’ve liked you little flightless birds ever since I started working at ADIC when I was 16 years old (see their logo).

Alpaca, cute, fluffy, careful, and curious… how I love you.  Those who know me know that I have a propensity to fluffy animals (see my dog INDY!, the Australian Shepherd).

They’re all over the place in Bolivia and a few parts of the Peruvian highlands.  Atleast thats where I saw them.

In addition to their fluffyness, they only crap in designated crapping areas.  It is amazing because when you walk through a field that had cows, you’ll see cow crap everywhere.  If you go through another field with alpaca, you’ll see only gently munched grass.  Yes, they poop, but they all poop in the same spot, you can call it the pooping area.  Because of this, it is possible to house train an alpaca.

Alpaca laying down getting ready for bed.

Here you can see the different colors.  Read the wikipedia article linked above to see all the varieties.  You can see 3 or 4 of them in this photo.  So cute AND colorful.

This is the most famous alpaca I met on the trip.  I was asking for directions and there were two alpaca in the back of a minivan.  I naturally asked if I could take a photo.  The driver said that these were prized alpaca that were featured on several billboards and posters around Bolivia.  It was an honor to meet such a famous camelid.

Unlike other herding animals crossing the road, alpaca queue for hundreds of yards to cross the road in a straight line.  They’re so careful.  What a great ungulate.

Such a sad sight.

Oh yeah, I am a tough biker.  You just watch out.