{"id":8206,"date":"2023-05-12T08:50:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T06:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/?post_type=animal&#038;p=8206"},"modified":"2026-07-02T10:46:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T08:46:53","slug":"vicuna","status":"publish","type":"animal","link":"https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/en\/animals\/vicuna\/","title":{"rendered":"Vicu\u00f1a"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Taxonomy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Phylum:\u00a0Chordata\u00a0&#8211; Chordate\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Class:\u00a0Mammalia\u00a0&#8211; Mammals\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Order:\u00a0Artiodactyla\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0Even-toed ungulates\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Family:\u00a0Camelidae\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0Camels\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Species:\u00a0<em>Vicugna\u00a0vicugna\u00a0<\/em>&#8211; vicuna<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conservation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"zoo-animal-details\">\n        <div class=\"born-container is-default\">\n            <div class=\"inner\">\n\n                \n                    <div class=\"item\">\n                        <div class=\"icon\">\n                            <img srcset=\"https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iucn-lc-e1695033593303.png 2x\" alt=\"\">\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"text\">\n                            IUCN &#8211; LC (Least Concern)                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                    \n                    <div class=\"item\">\n                        <div class=\"icon\">\n                            <img srcset=\"https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/logo-cites-1.png 2x\" alt=\"\">\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"text\">\n                            CITES &#8211; Yes                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                    \n                    <div class=\"item\">\n                        <div class=\"icon\">\n                            <img srcset=\"https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/eiropas-ex-situ-programma.png 2x\" alt=\"\">\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"text\">\n                            EAZA (EEP) &#8211; Yes                         <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n\n                    \n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Distribution\u00a0and habitat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vicuna is found in&nbsp;South America, specifically&nbsp;Puna and the High Andean ecosystems, however over half of the total world\u2019s population of vicuna&nbsp;live&nbsp;in&nbsp;Per\u00fa.&nbsp;Vicuna is a high-altitude ungulate.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vicunas&#8217;\u00a0daily activity patterns and movements are also strongly influenced by water availability, especially during the summer.\u00a0In the night and early morning\u00a0vicunas\u00a0move to hillsides to avoid predation from pumas and foxes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17880\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1-350x175.jpg 350w, https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1-580x290.jpg 580w, https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1-1160x580.jpg 1160w, https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/izplatiba-vikunja-1.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Adaptions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vicuna is the smallest of the South American camelids.&nbsp;Their height&nbsp;ranges from 1.45 to 1.60 m, the shoulder height from 75 to 85 cm and the weight from 35 to 65 kg.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vicunas are specially adapted to their high-altitude habitats. Their thick, soft fur traps layers of warm air close to their bodies, protecting them from low temperatures.&nbsp;Vicunas walk on the soles of their feet, so that they can flex their toes and cling to gravel-covered rocks and slopes.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Living in open areas,&nbsp;the&nbsp;long neck allows it to detect the presence of predators from a distance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Diet<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vicuna is a generalist herbivore that behaves as a facultative grazer that can also include shrubs in its diet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vicuna&#8217;s lower teeth are constantly growing so that they can eat tough grasses. They also chew their cud when resting to extract more nutrients from the grass.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Breeding<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vicunas&nbsp;are&nbsp;polygamous&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;they do not make stable pairs for breeding and care for the&nbsp;babies.&nbsp;Typically,&nbsp;vicunas&nbsp;make a&nbsp;group consisting of one male, two to&nbsp;fifteen&nbsp;females, and&nbsp;their&nbsp;offspring.&nbsp;Females are attracted to a feeding area monopolized by a territorial male. Females&nbsp;remain&nbsp;primarily within the territory, although in some populations there is movement between different social units, resulting in variable social organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pregnancy&nbsp;lasts about 11 months. Vicunas&nbsp;are&nbsp;born in late&nbsp;summer,&nbsp;when&nbsp;there is the most amount of food in&nbsp;steppe.&nbsp;Females breed again about two weeks later.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vicunas&nbsp;feed their young with milk for around 8 months.&nbsp;Milk is&nbsp;very rich&nbsp;in nutrients, so the cubs grow quickly.&nbsp;Offspring are forcibly dispersed from their family group by the&nbsp;male before the next breeding season. Females move&nbsp;to new&nbsp;groups and males&nbsp;that cannot guard their own territory yet create&nbsp;bachelor groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conservation\u00a0and threats<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Poaching triggered by international illegal market demands of vicuna fibre continues to be the major threat to the species.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other significant&nbsp;threats&nbsp;are&nbsp;urbanization of their habitat,&nbsp;intensive&nbsp;tourism&nbsp;and&nbsp;agriculture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>References:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arzamendia, Y., Carbajo, A. E., &amp;&nbsp;Vil\u00e1, B. (2018). Social group dynamics and composition of managed wild vicu\u00f1as (Vicugna&nbsp;vicugna&nbsp;vicugna) in Jujuy, Argentina.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Ethology<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>36<\/em>(2), 125-134.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bonacic, C., Macdonald, D. W., Galaz, J., &amp;&nbsp;Sibly, R. M. (2002). Density dependence in the camelid Vicugna&nbsp;vicugna: the recovery of a protected population in Chile.&nbsp;<em>Oryx<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>36<\/em>(2), 118-125.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Borgnia, M.,&nbsp;Vil\u00e1, B. L., &amp; Cassini, M. H. (2008). Interaction between wild camelids and livestock in an Andean semi-desert.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Arid Environments<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>72<\/em>(12), 2150-2158.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Franklin, W.L. 2011. Family Camelidae (camels). In: Wilson, D.E. and Mittermeier, R.A. (eds),&nbsp;<em>Handbook of the mammals of the world. Vol. 2. Hoofed mammals<\/em>, pp. 206\u2013246. Lynx editions, Barcelona.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mata, C., Malo, J. E., Galaz, J. L.,&nbsp;Cadorzo, C., &amp; Lagunas, H. (2016). A three-step approach to minimise the impact of a mining site on vicu\u00f1a (Vicugna vicugna) and to restore landscape connectivity.&nbsp;<em>Environmental Science and Pollution Research<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>23<\/em>, 13626-13636.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South American Camelid Specialist Group &#8211; IUCN. 2014. Poaching of Vicu\u00f1a and the Illegal Commercialization of its Fiber: A Persisting Problem. IUCN.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wheeler, J. C. (2012). South American camelids-past,&nbsp;present&nbsp;and future.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">IUCN&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iucnredlist.org\/species\/22956\/145360542\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.iucnredlist.org\/species\/22956\/145360542<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5079,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","inline_featured_image":false},"animal-category":[38,36],"animal-filter-1":[],"animal-filter-2":[],"class_list":["post-8206","animal","type-animal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Vicu\u00f1a - Zoo<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rigazoo.lv\/en\/animals\/vicuna\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Vicu\u00f1a - Zoo\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Taxonomy Conservation Distribution\u00a0and habitat Vicuna is found in&nbsp;South America, specifically&nbsp;Puna and the High Andean ecosystems, however over half of the total world\u2019s population of vicuna&nbsp;live&nbsp;in&nbsp;Per\u00fa.&nbsp;Vicuna is a high-altitude ungulate.&nbsp;&nbsp; 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