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Vicuña
At Paignton Zoo, you can see brother and sister Max and Belle.
The pair arrived from Twycross Zoo in July 2026 and share a mixed-species habitat with greater rheas in the zoo's Grasslands area.
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Family:
Camelidae
About the vicuña
The vicuña is the smallest wild member of the camel family and lives high in the Andes Mountains of South America. Adapted to cold temperatures, strong winds, and thin mountain air, vicuñas graze on hardy grasses and other vegetation found across the high-altitude plains. Their exceptionally fine wool provides vital insulation against the harsh climate.
Vicuñas live in family groups led by a dominant male, while young males often form bachelor herds. Once hunted to near extinction for their valuable fleece, they are now considered one of South America's greatest conservation success stories.
Conservation
Once hunted to near extinction for their highly prized wool, vicuñas have made a remarkable recovery thanks to legal protection and carefully managed conservation programmes across Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Sustainable wool harvesting now provides an incentive for local communities to protect wild populations and their mountain habitats.