Vicuna use by Andean Communities: An overview

Vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) are wild South American camelids that live in high-altitude steppes between Andean mountain ranges in the ecoregions of the Puna and Altoandina.  The species is prized for its fine fibre, which placed it at risk of extinction in the 1960s.  Effective conservation measures during the past 30 years resulted in an increase in vicuna numbers and now, the world population is approximately 200,000.