Guanaco

     The Guanaco is a South-American Camelid which inhabits a range of arid and semiarid habitats in South America. These habitats include desert grasslands, savannas, and sometimes forests. The Guanaco is the largest wild member of the Camelid family in South America, and is also believed to be the ancestor of the domestic Llama.

     Guanacos are elegant animals, with grey faces, long, slender necks, and fine legs. Their thick, woolly coat can be light brown, brownish yellow, or a rusty red. The belly, rump, and the backs of the legs are usually white; while the head, ears, and nape of the neck are grey. Guanacos are surprisingly graceful in their movements, and capable of running at speeds that reach 60 Km per hour. They are also good swimmers and have two padded toes on each foot that help them with footing on rocky trails or gravel slopes.

     Guanacos usually live in herds that include one adult male, several adult females, and youngsters less than one year of age. The female gives birth to a single offspring each year, in spring, after a gestation period of almost 11.5 months. Usually, dams become ready to mate again within two weeks of giving birth. The crias stay with the group until around 13 to 15 months old, then the young stags are kicked out of the herd by the dominant male. Guanacos reach sexual maturity at 12 to 24 months, and captive Guanacos may live up to 28 years. Young stags usually spend three to four years in all-male bachelor groups, practicing fighting skills and competing for dominance with other males, in readiness to challenge territorial males for control of a group of dams. 

     Like their domestic descendant (the llama), the Guanaco is double-coated with coarse guard hairs and a soft undercoat. Its fiber is particularly prized for the soft and warm feel, and it is found in luxury fabric. The Guanaco’s soft wool is valued second only to that of the Vicuña.