Alpacas sound call to resume tourism
Fascinating animals popular when showcased at Sydney cruise ship terminal
SYDNEY — Alpacas on the Sydney waterfront might not be as weird as it sounds.
After all, tourism operators at the Port of Sydney are hoping to rebound from the business-crushing COVID-19 pandemic, just as the alpaca bounced back after being nearly wiped out by Spanish conquistadors some 400 years ago in South America.
On Friday, a trio of the fleece-bearing animals were to make the journey from their home on the Mira River to the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion. Also known for being the location of the Big Fiddle, the commercial berth on Sydney harbour has been relatively quiet since the federal government banned cruise ships from Canadian waters. Hence the alpacas.
Port of Sydney general manager Paul Carrigan said it’s hoped the people-pleasing animals help attract visitors to the waterfront area, which, despite the ongoing absence of cruise ship passengers, is host to several commercial kiosks and shanties that peddle local crafts, gifts and souvenirs.
“We’re always trying to put on events and attractions that will bring people down to the waterfront,” said Carrigan.
“It’s a good way to bring attention to the waterfront and for (alpaca owners) to promote the merchandise they sell outside the pavilion in one of the shanties.”
The animals reside at Albert Bridge Alpacas on Hillside Drive, owned and operated by Bob and Norma Silverstein.
The alpacas are shorn for their much-sought-after fleece, which has a hollow fibre that is lighter and warmer than sheep wool. In fact, it is also moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic.
The Silversteins have 12 alpacas, including a 16-pound newborn (known as a cria) male called Odin. The alpacas were recently shorn and yielded more than 60 pounds of fleece.
Silverstein said that while products made from alpaca fibre are good sellers, it’s the animals themselves that people seem to love.
“They are an attraction in themselves and people are fascinated with them,” Silverstein said.
“With no cruise ships, we know there aren’t as many people around, but if we get a good response to the alpacas then we will take them down to the waterfront more often.”
The alpaca originally hailed from South America, specifically Peru. While related to the llama, they are somewhat smaller. Domesticated thousands of years ago, the alpaca is closely tied to the culture of the people of the Andes.
After the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, alpaca herds were almost obliterated. Forced to higher elevations in the Andes, the animal has made a steady comeback and now numbers about three million worldwide, with about 94 per cent in South America.