#vicugna

[inatungulates]

Vicuña Vicugna vicugna

Observed by erikatwell, CC BY-NC

[rabbitcruiser]

National Alpaca Day 

Alpaca Day is a special day that celebrates the unique and gentle alpaca. It falls on September 26th every year.

People across various countries show their appreciation for these friendly animals. Alpaca Day highlights the importance of alpacas to agriculture, their contribution to the environment, and the need to conserve them and their natural habitats.

Alpacas, our companions for thousands of years, are more than just wool providers. With their soft, padded feet and gentle grazing that doesn’t harm pastures, they are the unsung heroes of sustainable farming.

The Alpaca Owners Association, established in 2014, is dedicated to educating the public about alpacas and their role in sustainable farming. Events across the U.S.A. provide a unique opportunity to experience these gentle creatures up close.

Why do we celebrate Alpaca Day? For starters, alpacas are known for their friendly nature, unique personalities, and their wool quality, which is softer and warmer than many others.

They play a significant role in maintaining ecological balance, making them valuable to both agriculture and wildlife conservation. Alpaca Day serves as a reminder of the bond between humans and alpacas and the importance of protecting these charming animals and their environment.

History of Alpaca Day

Alpaca Day is a day dedicated to celebrating alpacas, the adorable, fluffy animals native to South America. The day acknowledges their significance in agriculture and their contributions to human society.

Although the origins of Alpaca Day as a celebration are not clearly documented, various countries have adopted their versions, such as New Zealand’s National Alpaca Day on May 2, Peru’s National Alpaca Day on August 1, and National Alpaca Farm Day in the United States on September 26​.

The Alpaca Owners Association, established in 2014, plays a pivotal role in organizing events across the U.S. to educate people about alpacas and promote the alpaca farming industry. These events offer a chance to meet alpacas up close and learn about their care, lifestyle, and the products made from their wool​.

Alpacas have been part of human history for thousands of years, serving as companions and providers of luxurious wool.

They are known for their friendly and gentle nature, each with a unique personality. Besides their role in agriculture, alpacas are celebrated for their environmental friendliness, as their grazing habits do not harm the land​​.

Celebrating Alpaca Day involves various activities, from visiting alpaca farms to learning crafts with alpaca wool. It’s a day to appreciate these creatures’ contributions and promote awareness about their conservation.

How to Celebrate Alpaca Day

Get Cozy with Alpaca Wool Crafts

Why not knit or crochet something special using alpaca wool? It’s super soft and warm, perfect for that cozy scarf or beanie you’ve been wanting. Imagine the satisfaction of creating something unique while celebrating these fluffy friends​​.

Farm Visit Fiesta

A trip to an alpaca farm could be the highlight of your Alpaca Day. Feed them, pet them, and even snap a selfie with a new fluffy pal. Farms often have tours or open days, so check out what’s happening near you​​.

Learn and Share Fun Alpaca Facts

Did you know alpacas can hum when they’re content? Dive into some alpaca trivia and share these fun facts with friends and family. You’ll be the life of the party, spreading joy and knowledge about these gentle creatures​​.

Create and Donate

Consider crafting alpaca-themed items like plush toys or art and donate them to local children’s hospitals or charities. It’s a heartwarming way to spread love and awareness about these adorable animals and their special day​.

Celebrating Alpaca Day is about embracing these animals’ quirky and adorable nature. From crafting with their luxurious wool to learning fascinating facts about them, there are many ways to honor these remarkable creatures.

So, take part, be creative, and most importantly, have fun!

Source

[printondemandart]

The Alpaca by Joseph Wolf Postcard

Animal Illustration: Designs & Collections on Zazzle

[podartists]

The Alpaca (Auchenia pacos) | Joseph Wolf | Zoological sketches v.1 (1861) | Biodiversity Heritage Library | Flickr | Public domain

[tenth-sentence]

Among breeding animals, there is often considerable antagonism between the sexes: males have been known to fight with pregnant females, and territorial males are openly hostile toward females from neighboring bands, often chasing and attacking them.

"Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" - Bruce Bagemihl

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Vicuñas live in cosexual groups usually containing 1 male, 3-10 females, and their offspring.

"Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" - Bruce Bagemihl

[oh-dear-so-queer]

At least some females that mount other females are bisexual, since this behavior occurs in pregnant females.

"Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" - Bruce Bagemihl

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Word List: Animals

for your next poem/story (pt. 2)

Accentor - a small Eurasian songbird with generally drab-colored plumage

Brach - a female hound

Culver - a dove or pigeon

Diprotodon - a monotypic genus of Australian Pleistocene herbivorous marsupials related to the kangaroos, resembling a rhinoceros in size, and walking on four legs

Eyas - an unfledged bird, specifically: a nestling hawk

Falanouc - (or Falanaka) a viverrine mammal, Eupleres goudotii, of Madagascar closely related to the Asiatic palm civet

Gerenuk - a large-eyed antelope (Litocranius walleri) of eastern Africa with a long neck and limbs

Huemul - (or Guemal) either of two small South American deer, Hippocamelus bisulcus and H. antisiensis, having simple forked antlers

'I'iwi - Hawaiian honeycreeper (Vestiaria coccinea) with chiefly bright vermilion plumage formerly used in making feather cloaks

Jerboa - any of several social nocturnal jumping rodents (family Dipodidae) of arid parts of Asia and northern Africa having a long tail and long hind legs

Kinkajou - a nocturnal arboreal omnivorous mammal (Potos flavus) found from Mexico to South America that is related to the raccoon and has a long prehensile tail, large eyes, and yellowish brown fur

Leveret - a hare in its first year

Murre - any of a genus (Uria) of black-and-white alcids, especially: a common seabird (U. aalge) of northern seas

Nyala - an antelope (Tragelaphus angasii) of southeastern Africa with vertical white stripes on the sides of the body, a dorsal crest of hair from the neck to the base of the tail, and in the male shaggy black hair along the underside; also: a related antelope (T. buxtoni) of Ethiopia

Olm - an elongated European cave-dwelling aquatic salamander (Proteus anguinus) with permanent external gills and small eyes covered by the skin

Pudu - a small reddish deer (Pudu pudu) of the Chilean Andes having simple antlers resembling spikes and standing only 12 or 13 inches high

Quarrion - cockatiel (i.e., a crested small gray Australian parrot, Nymphicus hollandicus, with a yellow head)

Rorqual - any of a family (Balaenopteridae) of large baleen whales that have relatively small heads, short, broad plates of baleen, and the skin of the throat marked with deep longitudinal furrows and that include the blue whale, humpback whale, minke whale, fin whale, and sei whale

Spatangid - a sea urchin of the suborder Spatangina; heart urchin

Turaco - any of a family (Musophagidae) of typically crested African birds that are related to the cuckoos and have a long tail, a short stout often colored bill, and red wing feathers

Urubu - black vulture (i.e., an American vulture, Coragyps atratus, that is smaller than the turkey buzzard and heavier in flight)

Vicuña - a long-necked mammal (Lama vicugna synonym Vicugna vicugna) of the Andes from Peru to Argentina that is related to but somewhat smaller than the guanaco, has a light brown woolly coat that is paler below, is considered to the be ancestor of the alpaca, and has been historically hunted for its wool and meat

Widgeon - any of several freshwater ducks (genus Mareca)

Xiphosura - an order of arthropods comprising the horseshoe crabs and extinct related forms and usually including only the two recent genera Limulus (synonym Xiphosurus) with representatives along the American coast of the Atlantic and Tachypleus with species along the Asiatic coast of the Pacific

Zokor - a burrowing rodent (Myotalpa aspalax) native to the Altai mountains that resembles a mole rat

More: Word Lists ⚜ Part 1

[sane-human]

Refs ! And some info for the general lines of the ask blog!

Sumer! (5500 BCE- 1800 BCE, oldest) currenlty in the Uruk Period! (in 3300 BCE) (Cool Video) Decided to give them the Lamassu as a "animal", because it was a protective figure for royalty!

"Initially depicted as a goddess in Sumerian times, when it was called Lamma, it was later depicted from Assyrian times as a hybrid of a human, bird, and either a bull or lion—specifically having a human head, the body of a bull or a lion, and bird wings, under the name Lamassu"(x)

Upper Egypt (3400 BCE- 3100 BCE) ( and Lower Egypt! (3500 BCE-3100 BCE) (Cool Video) They unify in 3100 BCE!

"Snakes are shown in Papyrus, walls of tombs and ancient artifacts because they are not only a symbol of protection and were respected by ancient Egyptians but also a sign of the union of two kingdoms"(x)

"In ancient Egypt, Upper Egypt was known as tꜣ šmꜣw, literally "the Land of Reeds" or "the Sedgeland", named for the sedges that grow there." (x) "Standard titles of the pharaoh included the prenomen, quite literally "Of the Sedge and Bee" (nswt-bjtj, the symbols of Upper and Lower Egypt) and "lord of the Two Lands" " (x)

Indus Valley Civilization! (The pacifict) (Cool Video) Gave them a cow as an animal seen the religion connection to them in modern times.

"Cattle. They were the main domestic animals of the Indus Valley Civilisation, and their bones constitute half of those found in the uncovered Indus sites. Cows were mainly domesticated for their milk, and bullocks were kept for drawing carts, threshing, and raising water; simultaneously, bulls were kept for breeding."

Caral-Supe Civilization! (3500 BCE-  1800 BCE) (Cool Video)

I didn't find anything about the language spoken by them , if anyone knows I'll alter it but for now I gave the generic color of the South Americas Eyes!

Gave them a Vicuña Vicugna as an animal , since it's the currend national animal of Peru , and they are fluffy and I like to draw them a lot...

Xia Dynasty China is not yet present! (They come around 2070 BCE)

Also a timeline of the domestication of animals!

The Ask Blog will be set in 3300 BCE to start , since that is the start of the Bronze Age!

(Reminder : If I do any errors please say so! I am here to learn too and confrontation of ideas is fun!) Thank you and have a nice day or night!! (∩｀-´)⊃━☆ﾟ.*･｡��� *May alter this post as it goes! or make an other!

[my-friend-meowth]

Siperiantiikeri (Panthera tigris altaica) Amur tiger

Ilves (Lynx lynx) Eurasian lynx

Muumi (Pinguisdelectamentum tovejanssonae) Moomin

Kultapanda (Ailurus fulgens) Red panda

Vikunja (Vicugna vicugna) Vicuña

[inbarfink]

[inatungulates]

Vicuña Vicugna vicugna

Observed by doce-fotos, CC BY-NC

[rabbitcruiser]

National Alpaca Day

Visit an alpaca farm, try your hand at knitting with alpaca wool, or dig into the unique history of these fuzzy creatures native to parts of South America.

Alpacas are cute, fuzzy animals that have been part of agriculture  for a significant amount of time. These beautiful creatures have unique  personalities, are highly sensitive to their environments and are docile in nature.

That’s why there’s a holiday dedicated to these lovely animals–and it’s called National Alpaca Day.

History of National Alpaca Day

Originating in South America, the Alpaca is part of the camelid family, which also includes the Asian humped camel. These lovely creatures have been domesticated for more than 9000 years and have been vitally important to the people of the Andes over the centuries.

Alpacas are actually excellent animals to have around the farm because their soft, padded feet are kind to the pasture land, leaving  plants undamaged and thriving. And since they don’t actually have top  front teeth, their grazing style is extremely gentle. These animals are very personable and most are smart enough to respond when their own name is called!

In 2014, the Alpaca Owners Association founded this special to educate people about how lovable and soft Alpacas are and how they contribute to the global economy.

The AOA started in that same year as a merge between the Alpaca  Owners & Breeders Association, Inc. and the Alpaca Registry, Inc. These two associations began in the 1980’s with two different purposes when it came to the alpaca industry, one focusing on scientific research and the other focusing on showcasing and education. Once the merge happened, the AOA was able to serve the North American alpaca industry with concise unity and be able to represent all the facets of the  industry.

Each year, the AOA hosts events all over the North American region with cooperation with farm members to educate people about the alpaca farm industry. Visitors that come to these farms get the opportunity to meet their alpacas and learn about their alpaca products.

Each farm member hosts special activities that teach people and families about alpacas, such as how alpacas contribute to the  environment and create a green industry of production that’s safer than most farms. As a nonprofit organization, the AOA hosts this day as a way for people to learn about alpaca livestock and how important they are to the environment and economy, as well as offering opportunities for people to get involved in the Alpaca farm lifestyle.

Because the industry of Alpaca farming developed slowly in various  parts of the world, a few different days have been used to celebrate  National Alpaca Day. Some other days paying homage to Alpacas include  New Zealand’s National Alpaca Day on May 2, Peru’s National Alpaca Day on August 1, and National Alpaca Farm Day in the United States on  September 26.

Whenever it is celebrated, getting to know more about these  delightful creatures is an enjoyable pursuit! It’s time to celebrate National Alpaca Day.

How to Celebrate National Alpaca Day

Get on board and support this adorable animal by enjoying some of these activities for National Alpaca Day:

Visit a Local Alpaca Farm

To celebrate National Alpaca Day, one of the best ways to show your  interest in alpacas is to visit a farm in the local area that carries a  membership with the AOA. On this holiday, it will likely be possible to  get up close and pet alpacas, learn about local farmers, and see how  alpaca fur is used in so many natural products that are on the market today.

Learn a Craft Using Alpaca Wool  

Alpaca fiber can be used for a variety of purposes including making  clothing, bedding, toys, and more. It has similar characteristics to  sheep’s wool but is usually warmer and often softer. Plus, it doesn’t contain lanolin, which is a wax product present on sheep’s wool that can  cause allergies in some people.

Most often, alpaca fibers are spun into yarn that can then be used to  make all sorts of hand-crafted items whether knitted, crocheted, or woven. Try using super soft Alpaca wool to create one of these unique  projects:

Alpaca Scarf. Super warm and soft against the skin, a scarf is one of the easiest Alpaca projects to knit, crochet, or weave because it is simply a giant rectangle.

Dryer Balls. This clever hack helps clothes to dry faster and without wrinkling. These are easy to make from unspun Alpaca fiber, felting them into balls that can save money and the environment when it comes to drying.

Socks. For more experienced knitters and crochet-ers, one of the most delightful ways to use Alpaca wool is making it into socks for cold feet. But don’t be deceived–they won’t make feet feel hot and itchy even on a warmer day. The natural fibers are excellent at wicking moisture away from the  skin.

Baby Garments. Since some Alpaca yarns can be a bit more expensive, they’re perfect when used on a small project, like a soft sweater, dress, jumper or snuggly for an heirloom new baby gift.

Let Others Know About National Alpaca Day

Invite friends or family to enjoy Alpaca-related events on this day. Share the idea of celebrating the day on social media. Share your love  for alpacas with the world by posting a picture of yourself with alpacas, whether they’re a cute stuffed animal or the real thing.

Source

[mutant-distraction]

The vicuña (Lama vicugna) or vicuna (both /vɪˈkuːnjə/, very rarely spelled vicugna, its former genus name)is one of the two wild South American camelids, which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes, the other being the guanaco, which lives at lower elevations. Vicuñas are relatives of the llama, and are now believed to be the wild ancestor of domesticated alpacas, which are raised for their coats. Vicuñas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive because the animal can only be shorn every three years and has to be caught from the wild. When knitted together, the product of the vicuña's wool is very soft and warm. The Inca valued vicuñas highly for their wool, and it was against the law for anyone but royalty to wear vicuña garments; today, the vicuña is the national animal of Peru and appears on the Peruvian coat of arms. Wikipedia

[podartists]

Vicunas (1831) by Jacques-Laurent Agasse | The Yale University Art Gallery | rawpixel

[demigodoreo]

Alpaca (Vicugna Pacos) and Antilope guib illustrated by Charles Dessalines D' Orbigny