KarunaNews Story

Vicuñas are native to the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina, where they have adapted to their habitat above 10,500 feet. Their large lungs pull oxygen from the thin air, and their leathery foot pads grip without damaging the fragile grasslands. Their greatest adaptation, and the motive for both their reverence and destruction, is the quality of their fur. Vicuña fiber is finer than cashmere; their pelts insulate tremendously while remaining lightweight and soft. Raw vicuña fiber can fetch upwards of $270 per pound. In the Inca empire, the animals were considered sacred and killing them was forbidden. During the Spanish conquest, the vicuña were heavily hunted for their meat and hides. In the early 21st century, poachers devastated the species. From a low of 6,000 head in the mid-1960’s the species has rebounded to an estimated 200,000 thanks to the implementation of the chaccu, a traditional ceremony that involves non-lethal shearing of the animals. The animals are also treated for parasites and undergo some light dentistry on them to maintain their health.