Near the South American Andes at the height from 3500 to 5500 meters the interesting animal – a vicuna lives. Her close relatives are lamas and camels.
Vicunas are mammals of group artiodactyl. These types of living beings belong to family of verblyudovy. For this reason vicunas remotely can remind camels though bigger similarity at these animals to lamas.
The weight of a vicuna is 40–50 kg, length of a body is 150 cm, height is 70–110 cm. Characteristic external features of an animal is the short head with long ears. Color on a back light brown, on a stomach almost white.
The mountains of Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina are considered as an area of dwelling of vicunas. It is possible to say that this mountain animal living in the Andes.
At the head of herd of vicunas there is a leader, and near it from 5 to 15 females with cubs. Duration of pregnancy of a vicuna of 10-11 months. Average life expectancy of individuals about twenty years.
The vicuna cannot be contained in bondage, she is not tamed and refuses to breed at all, the only option – contents in large nature reserves.
Hair of vicunas which is one of the most expensive in the world has special value. Catching of animals for the sake of wool promoted almost total disappearance of vicunas, but now population is restored.
In ancient centuries the clothes from hair of vicunas were worn only by high grandees, at the same time, the animal was caught, had hair cut and was released. The Spaniards who came to Peru began to exterminate them. The last decades vicunas are under protection of the state and the international community. For receiving wool they are driven to shelters, cut, surveyed regarding diseases, and then released.
At a vicuna wool very warm, incredibly soft and thin to the touch. Special permission is got for trade in wool and its use. To receive 1 kg of this unusual wool five animals which length of the grown wool has to be not less than 3 cm are required. Because of slow fouling each animal gets a haircut time in 2 years.
During the processing and production of clothes, wool is not exposed to coloring – she is very sensitive to chemicals and easily collapses.