[Translate to English:] Vikunja (Lama vicugna) im Altiplano Chiles

Junges Vikunja

Wool worth a fortune23.10.2009 14:36

By: Martin Zwick

The Inkas of South America appreciated their wool so much, that every commoner wearing a garment made of their wool was simple executed. Wearing their wool was the privilige of the king and selected noblemen.

The wool of the vicuna, one of the camelids of South America living only in the cold high altitude environment of the Andes Mountains, is still considered to be the most expensive wool world wide. For decades the vicuna was close to extinction as usual due to habitat loss and poaching. By now however the numbers are steadily increasing and some countries are considering to legalize the trading with vicuna wool.

But how to achieve this without the risc of poachery and unsustainable wool harvests? That is the question these countries have to answer!

Vicuna wool, legally and sustainable harvested, could be a mean to increase the standard of living in the impoverished areas of the high andes!

Vicuna pictures are now available, including many pictures of cute baby vicuna's