Comments on: Crikey’s Deputy Editor has sent me this important photo.

By: mr merkin

mr merkin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:54:25 +0000

Big, angry and bold … trained by Mal Turnbull?

By: jaynethecow

jaynethecow — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:31:26 +0000

hmmm very delectable; apparently they bbq nicely, too. :P

By: Evan Beaver

Evan Beaver — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:13:04 +0000

VA and Orangruffles, I spoke to a guy in Mudgee, who had a couple in with his sheep. They bond with the sheep, and assume a protecting role, particularly against foxes. I think they win by just being big and angry. Geese do a similar thing; ie keep foxes away, and again by just being big, angry and bold.

By: orangeruffles

orangeruffles — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:12:02 +0000

The person who drives around with his alpaca in the back seat is a well known sight in Canberra, there are a few pictures floating around the interwebs of them. (See http://the-riotact.com/?p=4148 and http://the-riotact.com/?p=4102).

I was later corrected about the guard animal thing – apparently it is sheep or other alpacas they will guard, so while they will attempt to trample a fox to death, they are no much use for guarding against burglars.

[Firstdog - Unless the burglar is a fox!]

By: scottyea

scottyea — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:42:31 +0000

Are they related to guineapigs?

By: Christine Johnson

Christine Johnson — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:26:03 +0000

Thanks orangeruffles for explaining why a pix of a Llama/Alpaca hanging out of a car window in Canberra went national this week! You’d die to be greeted with those expressions every morning and night.!

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:30:07 +0000

It would be wonderful if many, many humans exuded such intelligent and penetrating eyes.
Orangeruffles: I’ve heard-seen-that guard-dog thingo. Hell! I was speaking to a guy in Chile, he was the one who said it. He breeds these fascinating creatures. But I can’t think of what specifically they do. I’m talking all the Llama family.
I’ll try to remember.

By: Kerrie Gandara

Kerrie Gandara — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:56:11 +0000

Ugh Boots with Eyelashes….vewy pwetty.

By: a a

a a — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:13:51 +0000

Alpacas are nothing more then “aspirational” sheep”

By: orangeruffles

orangeruffles — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:28:36 +0000

A few weeks back I attended an Alpaca show in Canberra, which was apparently part of National Alpaca Week. I nearly came home to my unit with two alpacas (only $300 for the two! What a bargain!) The sign told me they could be trained as “guard animals”, but I wondered what they would do if the burglars were not deterred by their ability to spit with great accuracy?