Alpaca fleece was for royalty
Alpaca fleece was the finest fabric anyone could ever touch during the Inca period. They are shorn once a year and the fiber is so delicate and beautiful that only members of the royal family or high officials can wear them. The fibers also have specialized craftsmen dedicated to weaving different fabrics.
Because of this great respect for the fleece, it was considered an honor for a commoner to receive gifts from the alpaca fleece. Raising alpacas was a useful means of livelihood even during the Inca civilization.
Alpacas have religious and social significance
Alpacas were animals highly prized by the Incas and their hunting was prohibited. Yes, they ate alpacas back then, but only during religious and social ceremonies. The Incas used to consume fresh alpaca meat with traditional preparations. And people made good use of every part of the alpaca, including the bones, fat and organs. These have been used in various applications such as footwear, musical instruments, medicines and fertilizers.
During ritual sacrifices, the Incas used the alpaca as their favorite sacrificial animal, believing that their gods would be pleased if they offered such a wonderful animal.
Alpacas are beloved companions
Alpacas were not just livestock for the Incas. They are daily companions cared for by their families. The best evidence of the Incas’ high regard for their alpacas came during the Spanish Inquisition; The Spanish occupiers saw alpacas only as food and were hunted to near extinction by the Spanish. When the Incas were driven out by the Inquisition, they took their alpacas to remote regions, where they continued to breed them until they were back in safe numbers. The Inca did not give in to the economic demand for alpaca meat, but instead risked treating them as their precious companions.
The world’s growing love for alpacas demonstrates the value the Incas saw many years ago. The usefulness, beauty and happiness that alpacas brought back to the Incas spread throughout the world. South America is still the main producer of alpaca fiber, but the United States and Canada are learning to build alpaca farms.
You can take a look and fall in love with the adorable alpacas in Peru. They are farms and villages that offer tours with people’s favorite animals.
