In The United States, Alpacas live for 15 – 20 years if cared for correctly.  Alpacas living in their native lands, the Andes, typically have a much lower lifespan. This is because the animals are used in the terminal market when the fiber quality starts to decline.

Here in the US, we use alpacas for the fiber they produce and to produce more animals.  Because we are limited to the animals brought to the country during the original import, it is important to keep growing our herd.  As long as an animal is of high quality and good health, they will continue to be breed in most programs.

In Peru, they are looking to get the most out of each and every animal.  Therefore, the animals are used for their fiber production until the quality drops off at 8 – 10 years old.  At that point, they will be used for their hides and meat.  They also have a shorter life expectancy because of the extreme weather and circumstances they encounter in the Andes.

The oldest documented alpaca lived to see 27 years.  That being said, we have not kept great documentation until recently.  There could have been alpacas that lived longer over the thousands of years they have been domesticated.

How Long Does an Alpacas Live In The Wild?

One of the most common questions I get at farmers markets is how long does an alpaca live in the wild?  The truth of the matter is that there are no alpacas in the wild these days.  We have gotten to a point, through selective breeding, that an alpaca grows fiber too fast.  They need to be shorn by us humans in order to survive.  If they are not shorn, the wool will start to restrict their movement while causing them to overheat.

Why Is The Lifespan Of Alpacas Important To Breeders?

As a breeder, I need to know how long I can expect my alpacas to live and reproduce.  It is important because I want to grow my heard and need to know how many alpacas I am expecting to have each year.  It might not be exact, but I can get a rough estimate so that I don’t run out of room!

Can Alpacas Die Of Loneliness?

It is very true that alpacas can die of loneliness.  Alpacas are herd animals by nature and need to have other like animals around for social interaction.  When purchasing an alpaca, you should always buy at least two, and we always recommend three.  The more animals you keep them with, the happier they will be! Don’t worry though, we have plenty of alpacas for sale to choose from!