Alpacas, Their Young, and the Heat

At the Radduscher Alpaca Finca, Franziska Ast and her family have their hands full these days, because the cold-loving animals need help. “Fortunately, we finished shearing them days ago, so the animals don’t have to wear their thick wool coats. Shaded spots are naturally a bit scarce in our pasture, but we’ve set up umbrellas and occasionally spray our animals with a garden sprinkler,” says Franziska Ast. His son Joop is very eager to help and kept pointing the sprinkler toward the alpacas enjoying their shower.

Joop keeps readjusting the garden sprinkler.

At the same time, a mare gives birth and retreats under a parasol. The herd—the “aunts” and “uncles”—also gather there and form a sort of protective circle around the mother. Franziska Ast, too, is watching the events unfold from a safe distance. “I let nature take its course and only intervene in an emergency,” she says, having attended many births. Nevertheless, it helps with rubbing, but only to speed up breathing and stimulate circulation. As soon as the little one can stand on its own two feet, the mare and foal will move to a separate, shaded paddock—Joop is already looking forward to his expanded sprinkler duties!

Franziska Ast is expecting four more births in the near future, which will hopefully take place under conditions that are more comfortable for the animals.

The sprinkler helps the alpacas cool off a bit.

Birth of an Alpaca Foal

Peter Becker, June 29, 26