In September, I attended a very interesting event called “El Chaccu.” This event was held in a small farming community called San Juan de Ondores, which is located high up in the mountains at 4,100 meters (13,500 feet).
“Chaccu” is a traditional indigenous ceremony that has been practiced since before the Spaniards arrived in Perú over 500 years ago. The ceremony starts with hundreds of community members waking up at sunrise in order to locate wild groups of vicuñas, a type of camelid related to llamas and alpacas. Then, the locals form a large human chain around the vicuñas and herd them into an enclosure. Once the animals are safely captured, their fiber (fur) is sheared. This process is done without harming the vicuñas. After they have been sheared, they are released back into the wild.
The community has this tradition because vicuña fur is one of the most expensive and highly valued natural fibers in the world. Community members are able to make a living by selling the fiber. The tradition also helps protect vicuñas from poachers who might otherwise kill them for their valuable fiber. Additionally, scientists usually attend the event and place trackers on the vicuñas.
