Alpacas are farmed for their exceptionally fine fibre and used increasingly in tourism, therapy, and as companion animals — but their unique social and behavioural needs are often misunderstood by new keepers.
Alpaca welfare in well-managed farms can be high — the animals are hardy, relatively disease-resistant, and thrive with appropriate social groups and pasture. Key welfare risks include isolation, inadequate shearing, poor dental care, and insufficient veterinary oversight. Alpaca trekking tourism, when well-managed with adequate rest, appropriate loads, and social grouping, can provide positive environmental enrichment. Poor operations treat alpacas as props rather than animals with social and behavioural needs.