Alpaca heat stress countermeasures
August 21, 2026
Alpaca at Futaba Farm, the children's zoo at Ueno Zoo, are sheared once a year as a measure to combat the heat.
Alpaca are domesticated camelids raised in the Andes Mountains of South America, at altitudes of 3,000 to 5,000 meters. They have very high-quality, warm wool that allows them to withstand the cold. Conversely, they do not tolerate heat well. Furthermore, Alpaca wool has been bred to grow continuously, so at Ueno Zoo, their wool is shorn every year around May or June.
Alpaca wool has a two-layer structure consisting of thick, stiff outer hairs and fine, soft inner undercoats, and grows very densely, so a special clipper blade for Alpaca is used.
This year, we started cutting the alpacas' wool little by little about a week before the main shearing. Alpaca were wary of the unfamiliar work and spat, so we covered their eyes with a towel to calm them down before cutting their wool. After such preparations, the day of shearing finally arrived.
Along with the shearing, we performed a physical examination and took blood samples for a health check. This year, we also shortened the fur on its tail and trimmed the fur around its face with scissors, making it look neater and allowing us to finish in a short amount of time. Before and after the shearing, it looks like a completely different creature.
This year's yield was 1.97 kg. The high-quality Alpaca wool produced in such large quantities each year is used in our daily lives for yarn, clothing, and other garments.
Currently, some fur has grown back compared to immediately after shearing. During the hot summer months, we allow them to freely move between a room with a fan and air conditioning during the day and the outdoor enclosure, letting them spend time wherever they like.
[Ueno Zoo Children's Zoo Staff]