They know how to shelter themselves from cold conditions. They use trees and rocks and can be found huddling together for warmth. They also know how to adapt their water consumption according to the changes in seasons here. They have sharp, pointed teeth which help them break through icy surfaces to even use snow as a water source.
Alpacas in the Andean region have survived the test of time and once faced extinction. When the Spanish took control over the Incan empire, almost all the alpacas were destroyed. However, the native people moved herds further into rural, rugged terrain of the mountains, placing them in remote places that the conquistadors wouldn’t go. This saved the population many years ago, but unfortunately there are several threats that still exist.
One of the greatest dangers to the alpaca population is the mining that takes place here in the mountains of Peru. Mining involves stripping the countryside of plant and animal life to look for valuable minerals and precious stones. They blast away rock, use harsh chemicals and leave behind lots of waste. All of this uproots alpacas from their homes and makes survival difficult. Climate change is also a growing concern for these animals. Temperatures, water supply, and available plant life are all unstable aspects of this change. Peru has lost over half of its glaciers in the last 50 years. When the glaciers disappear, so do the rivers that are connected to them. Without rivers, there are droughts which endanger the species. Also, their bodies cannot handle extreme temperature changes.
