At Futaba Ranch, the children's zoo at Ueno Zoo, Alpaca shearing was carried out on May 26th, a day the zoo was closed.
Some may think that shearing alpacas in late May is too early, but Alpaca are domesticated animals that originate from the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains in South America, between 3,500m and 5,000m. Because they are sensitive to heat, Ueno Zoo shears them every year before the really hot weather arrives.

Alpacas were bred for human use, so their fur grows continuously without shedding. This is why they need to be sheared. For shearing, large electric clippers and scissors designed for animals are used. Because Alpaca fur is very dense, the scissors are used to comb the fur while the clippers are being used.

Before shearing	After shearing

The sound of the clippers is very loud, and there is a possibility that Alpaca may be startled by the noise and become agitated, so a sedative was administered to keep Alpaca from moving too much during shearing, allowing animal keeper to perform the shearing safely. Once Alpaca had calmed down under the effects of the sedative, they were gently laid on their sides, and the fur on their bellies, necks, and legs was trimmed short, taking great care not to cut their skin.


1,816g of hair was removed.
In addition to shearing, we also performed blood sampling and nail trimming as part of their health management.

After their annual shearing, Alpaca look neat and tidy. They should be able to enjoy a comfortable summer this year as well.

[Ueno Zoo Children's Zoo Staff]

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(June 25, 2025)