Threatened species of llamas
Name(s):
Endangered species of vicuña
Nature
The vicuna was hunted for their fleece,almost to extinction by the 1960's.
Background
The vicuna is the smallest member of the camel family. The guanaco is somewhat llama sized, while the vicuna is a tiny, antelope like creature. Both have extremely fine fiber, the vicuna having the finest fiber in the world. Vicunas inhabit Chile,Peru,and Bolivia prefering to live at 12,000 to 18,000 feet above sea level. A vicuna produces about 4 ounces of fleece a year. Vicuna's fleece was so valuable that only royalty was allowed to wear it. Vicuna is the llama's only wild relative.
Incidence
There are only 15,000 vicunas living. There used to be 1 million vicunas. Vicunas are endangered.
Broader
Strategy(ies)
Value(s)
Reference(s)
Type
(E) Emanations of other problems