Conservation efforts in Peru, Chile and Argentina have led to a phenomenal resurgence in vicuna populations. Once again, due to careful management, vicunas can be found in healthy numbers in the Andes. The smallest of all camels, the vicuna weighs about 90 pounds and stands just under three feet at the shoulder. The vicuna is a hardy survivor adapted to high altitudes, where drought and freezing nights are the rule. It is a natural pacer and well designed to travel fast for great distances.
Keen eyesight allows early detection for flights to safety.
The vicuna is the probable wild progenitor of the domestic alpaca, which was created by selective breeding about 6000 years ago. Entirely wild, vicunas live in small family groups led by a single territorial male that vigilantly repels rival males and small predators threatening the young. After 11 months of gestation, vicuna mothers give birth to one baby, known as a cria. Vicunas are highly communicative, signaling one another with body postures, ear and tail placement, and numerous other subtle movements. They also emit a soft humming sound to signal bonding or greeting and a range of guttural sounds that communicate anger and fear.