Portraits of a brown alpaca (L, Vicugna pacos, showing teeth) and llama (R, Lama glama, with red ear tags), South America's 2 domestic camelids and related to camels. They are common throughout the central Andes, in high altitude regions where agriculture is difficult camelids are often the mainstay of the rural economy. Their facial expressions are invariably cute, often comical, and wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
Portraits of baby alpacas (Vicugna pacos), one of South America's domestic camelids and closely related to camels. Alpacas are bred mainly for their soft, fine wool, which is a very important source of income for rural economies. Baby alpaca wool in particular is very soft and in demand for jumpers and other woolen products, for both local and export markets. Their cute little faces are wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
Portraits of a white and brown llama (Lama glama), one of South America's domestic camelids and closely related to camels. They are common throughout the Andes, in ancient times they were the main form of transport and also provided wool, meat and fat. The woolen ear tags (t'ikas) are to identify the family or community they belong to. Their cute faces are a wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
Portraits of a white alpaca (Vicugna pacos, L, with pale eye) and llama (Lama glama, R; with laid back ears), South America's 2 domestic camelids and closely related to camels. They are common throughout the Andes, in high altitude regions where agriculture is difficult camelids are often the mainstay of the rural economy. Their facial expressions are invariably cute, often comical, and wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
Portraits of 2 alpacas (Vicugna pacos, R, with the ear tags) and llamas (Lama glama, L), South America's 2 domestic camelids and closely related to camels. They are common throughout the Andes, in high altitude regions where agriculture is difficult camelids are often the mainstay of the rural economy. Their cute faces are wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
2 views of the perfect cone of the Parinacota volcano (6,330m / 20,765ft), which lies on the Bolivia - Chile border and said to be the highest symmetrical conical volcano in the world. The LH photo with an alpaca (Vicugna pacos) and Lake Chungará was taken in Lauca National Park in the far north of Chile. The RH one with an alpaca and a llama is the view from Sajama National Park in Bolivia.
Portraits of a white alpaca (Vicugna pacos, L) and llama (Lama glama, R, with red ear tags), South America's 2 domestic camelids and closely related to camels. They are common throughout the Andes, in high altitude regions where agriculture is difficult camelids are often the mainstay of the rural economy. Their facial expressions are invariably cute, often comical, and wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
Portraits of southern viscachas (Lagidium viscacia) enjoying the early morning sun. Viscachas are often found in boulder fields as high as the snow line in the Andes. They are closely related to the chinchillas and look like a cross between a large rabbit and a squirrel, could easily win prizes for cuteness, and are wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
Portraits of mother and baby southern viscachas (Lagidium viscacia). Viscachas are often found in boulder fields as high as the snow line in the central Andes. They are closely related to the chinchillas and look like a cross between a large rabbit and a squirrel, could easily win prizes for cuteness, and are wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
Portraits of mother and baby southern viscachas (Lagidium viscacia). Viscachas are often found in boulder fields as high as the snow line in the central Andes. They are closely related to the chinchillas and look like a cross between a large rabbit and a squirrel, could easily win prizes for cuteness, and are wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
Portraits of southern viscachas (Lagidium viscacia) enjoying the early morning sun. Viscachas are often found in boulder fields as high as the snow line in the Andes. They are closely related to the chinchillas and look like a cross between a large rabbit and a squirrel, could easily win prizes for cuteness, and are wonderful to wake up to with your morning tea or coffee!
