Like its cousin the llama, the Alpaca was domesticated over 6,000 years ago by the Incas, who reared them for their perfect coats. Stronger than mohair, warmer than duck down, silky to the touch and non-flammable, this creature arguably has the best fleece of the animal kingdom – in ancient times, it was even known as the ‘Fibre of the Gods’. Besides their fur, alpacas make very good pets – just be warned, they’re pack animals, so you’ll need more than one.

Originally from the Andes Mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile, alpacas have been exported around the world. Today, you’ll find large populations of these creatures in the US, Canada, New Zealand, Thailand and the Netherlands. This calls for a round-the-world trip - alpaca my bags!

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