Alpaca Reproductive Photo Essay

4 min readMay 17, 2015

— — — — — Science 9 , Carol Wang

Alpacas are really gentle and cute animals, and their reproduction process always only take one year to have one baby alpaca, which is called “Cria”. In general, this kind of animal is very welcomed by farmers because its high reproductive. Here are the phases of reproduction.

Selecting and Finding a Mate: The very first thing to in the process. However, the selective breeding that people usually do in the zoo was like the dam and potential sire are put in a pen together. Another way is put the male in a pasture with several females.

Mating Behaviours: The behaviours during the two alpacas mating are very interesting. Alpaca mate with the female in a lying down position, which is unusual in a huge animal. By the way, the male always makes a distinctive “ orgling” sound during the mating and its takes about 20~45 minutes.

Fertilization: The fertilization was happened in a female alpaca’s body as soon as the couple did the mating. This is called induced ovulation. Therefore, they don’t have rut like other animals.

Embryonic Development: This picture was taken when a little alpaca was still in embryonic development. The gestation period is, on average about 11.5 months.

Birth: Before the baby alpaca was born, the outward signs of birth are not always obvious. However, contractions will begin as the fetus enters the birth canal. Finally, the placenta should be dropped 45~60 minutes after birth.

Litter Size: The litter size for alpaca usually have single offspring, but the twins could happened once in 100 babies. ( Female alpacas could have one baby every year after 3 or 5 years growing up )

Rearing: Taking care of a baby alpaca is not easy at all, like protecting them from different diseases and pollution of the environment. In this case, you need to shear alpacas once a year, and don’t let their furs get dirty.

Parental Behaviours: Alpacas are social herd animals that live in family groups consisting of a territorial alpaca male, females and their young. If they want to protect themselves or babies, they could warn the herd about intrruders by making sharp nosiy. Their front feet can spit and attack.

Growth & Development of offspring: There are three facts about baby alpaca development. First, Crias may be weaned through human intervention at about six months old and 60 pounds. Second, alpacas can live up to 20 years. Third, Crisas could run as soon as they was born.

At the end of the story, the Crisa has became a gentle and cute alpaca.( Here is the last picture, the alpaca is smiling at you. )