Those opposing it argued that the animals were an exclusive heritage and natural resource of Peru. Efforts by well-financed foreign animal exporters working in collusion with key Peruvian nationals found ways to make exceptions to these longstanding rules. In the last three years, Peru has exported 2,500 animals. These animals went to the United States and Australia. In recent months, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Italy, and France have also expressed interest in importing alpacas to their countries, although the French are primarily interested in llamas.
Negotiations are under way to establish protocols for humane treatment and disease detection.
El III Censo Nacional Agropecuario, Peru's national livestock census, estimates a current population of 2,900,900 alpacas and 1,006,574 llamas. The rate of reproduction is 1 percent per year. Since Peru has been exporting more than 1 percent since 1993, both populations are decreasing. In addition to this concern, some of the animals chosen by foreigners are prime or rare breeding stock, potentially depleting an important segment of the Peruvian gene pool. South American highlands children capture a cria There also has been constant debate in Peru among government officials, fiber mill owners, alpaca breeders, and others knowledgeable about alpaca exportations regarding the large discrepancy between prices paid to the indigenous breeder and the large profits made by foreign animal dealers from the same animals once they reach the lucrative markets in Australia, North America, and Europe.