Juan, our new baby Alpaca

Juan and his pink muzzle

We have a new Alpaca.

New baby Alpaca for Cleburne

 

Juan was borne during the morning of 21 March, the day after the  Tasmanian State election. At his birth, he was snowy white with a pink muzzle, pink rims around his eyes and pink ears. Now, three weeks later, his wool is white-grey, but the pink can still be seen on his muzzle, around his eyes and in his ears. He is the cutest thing.

His legs are long and spindly, but he runs very fast and has learned how to stop without panicking and looking for the hand brake! We have isolated him with his mother, Lilly, and his Aunt, Chocolate, in our fruit orchard. Lilly has a prodigious appetite for lucerne and water. She is producing lots of high quality milk for Juan, who suckles whenever she sands still. When he was borne he did no know where to find the teats, and Lilly was no help. She moved away whenever he nuzzled her belly. We took advice from an expert and gave Juan milk from a botle.  He devoured it and over the next few hours found his mother’s teats. Lilly did her part by standing still long enough for him to suckle and get the nourishment he needed. 

How cute is this?

 

The two males, Oliver and Dizzie, will be kept away to let Lilly rest and recuperate and to give Juan time to beef up.

Juan is confident with both of us. When we squat low, he approaches and checks us out. He touches us with his nose, while making little sounds. He also accepts short cuddles and strokes. He is a delightful little guy.

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