Yes, it is that time of the year again π National Alpaca Week 2013
This is the week that you can visit your local alpaca farm in Australia; and being the proud owners of two Suri alpaca we thought we would go and have a looksee at the place where Spirit and Merlin were born (Ivory Park alpaca farm in a place called Bungadoo).
Personally I would have gone to visit Bungadoo just for the sound of the name π
So we travelled forth to Bungadoo on Sunday afternoon to visit Ivory Park. This alpaca farm is owned and operated by Bev and Darryl (with a focus on solid white Suri alpacas).
And what a pretty farm it was!
Rolling hills, plentiful dams and a multitude of alpaca afoot.
This is the Suri nursery with Mums and their bubs (or crias as they are called in the alpaca world)
Suri alpacas (crias and Mums)
Ivory Park also has some Huacaya alpacas (the fibre is very dense and stands perpendicular to the body). Suri alpacas have the finer fibre which has a dreadlock appearance.
Here is a very young Huacaya alpaca (cria) with Mum.
Huacaya cria with Mum
Huacaya cria
There was even a llama to behold:
Fabuloso (not my name π )
Llama
Last but not least – the Suri alpaca on the left is Pinjarra Rossini (father of Spirit and Merlin). He looks a bit pleased with himself (but what the hell would I know π learning the body language of an alpaca is on my To Do list!)
Pinjarra Rossini (left)
The kids and I really enjoyed our visit to Ivory Park and didn’t get spat at once π
Thank you Bev and Darryl (and Sandra and Tim for the introductions).
National Alpaca Week 2013 ends on the 12th of May, so you can still get yourself out there and visit an alpaca farm near you!
_______________________________________________________________________
What good looking stock your llamas come from. Is there a name for a cluster of llamas? Happy Alpaca Week π
We have alpacas Jane – not Llamas π But good question – I reckon a group of alpacas is the Curiosity Show π
Thank you Gabrielle for all the infos on Alpaca, I knew only the fine fabris made of!!
I had a tour also at the Ivory park, very nice!
Glad you enjoyed the tour Benedicte π I’m learning a lot with these alpacas!
Gorgeous animals, Gabrielle. And by the look of yours, they have a really lovely temperament.
Alpacas are pretty shy critters but sweet at the same time π They are not naturally fond of humans – bit nervous around people (as should most herd animals) but they just run away if scared most of the time.
Now how many will you be adding to your group at home…enjoyed the info and the pics.
hahaha none at the moment Charles π but you never know (the crias are irresistable)
oh yeah, PR does look pleased with himself, right on haha β they are so beautiful, and their body language just is what it is, isn’t it? they seem so up front, all there and rather happy to be doing their thing haha, alas the most we have here are goat farms but those are sweet too with funky sounds and earthy scents
It is what it is – hahaha – yes, indeedy tipota π that youtube clip is hilarious – what a weird sound but so cute with the baby – he sounds like the concerned father – hahaha – I just love goats too π
Thanks for the gorgeous photos. They certainly are beautiful. I’ll have to keep Ivory Park in mind if I am ever up that way. Yes, love the name Bungadoo too.
If you are up this way Helen I will take you on a tour π There are even more alpaca parks further south!
I look forward to it if I am ever that way – thank you.
I love that there is National Alpaca Week. I think your Alpacas would be some of the luckiest on earth Gabe.
Thanks Graham π There are a great variety of ‘weeks’ out there – that’s for sure – haha!
Happy to introduce you and glad you had a great time. Bev has an Alpaca Open Day on the 26th May at Bungadoo, a very interesting and informative day. If you know anyone that would be interested let them know. I have spent the last 2 afternoons at Agro Trend sitting and cuddling Alpacas and helping with info for Athol & Sylvia.
Athol & Sylvia own Jacaranda Park Alpacas at Childers. They breed Huacaya Alpacas and they have there open day on Sunday 12th May. They are lovely people, we bought our Huacaya’s from them and they are so supportive with everything just like Bev & Daryle. I hope to introduce you to them as well in the future. If you happen to go to Agro Trend tomorrow pop in and say Hi
Hi Sandi – I didn’t know that about Athol and Sylvia #doh Yes, I would love to see their huacayas – for some reason I thought you got your huacayas from Bev! Won’t have time to get to Agro Trend – every thing is happening this weekend in Bundy it seems. Would have loved to have gone though π¦
You had me at ‘Edgar Allen Poe is the proud strutting father’.
hahaha thought a few people would appreciate his name Nigel π Maybe he has been reincarnated in my rooster – haha – I wish π
What fabulous animals! How wonderful to have those guys for animal pals!