Motcombe Motivators Elizabeth Saville of Motcombe <strong>Alpacas</strong> says, ‘If the children had a cheque book we would have sold all the cria four times over! One nine year old gave me his telephone number to phone and tell his Dad when to come and collect two!’ 56 Alpaca World Magazine <strong>Winter</strong> 2004/05 We have had primary school visits to this conservation farm for several years. These visits have covered various aspects of environmental studies, looking for fl ora and signs of wild animal activity. With conventional cattle and sheep grazing the fi elds, the inevitable ‘please can we stroke them?’ has simply not been possible. However, the arrival of alpacas on to the farm earlier this year opened up a whole new range of possibilities. I looked forward to seeing what impact they would have on the children, especially the ones who do not have the opportunity to handle large animals. I was equally intrigued to see how the alpacas would react to an invasion of excited, energetic, small people. The younger children can be very unsure of meeting a strange animal – let alone getting close – and there are always those of any age who feel that they ‘don’t want to’, often simply because they don’t have the confi dence to try anything new! We bought pregnant alpacas with a view to taming their cria at a very young age, following the guidelines of the American John Mallon, who halter-trains llamas and alpacas at only twelve days old. The fi rst school visits in July gave the children a huge surprise to see that alpacas had arrived at Motcombe Farm! The teachers were quick to use the opportunity to discuss the geography of South America, and how different life was, here in Britain, for the alpacas. We were bombarded with questions and the interest was intense, although they couldn’t take their eyes off the novel camelids in the fi eld. The children could hardly contain their excitement, yet we had to ask them to keep reasonably quiet so as not to scare the alpacas. ‘Do they spit?’ ‘Yes!’ I replied, at which they fell about laughing and wanted a demonstration! We had kept quiet about how biddable alpacas are, so while the teachers took the children off through the woods and down the farm on a wild fl ower foray, I gathered the alpacas into their holding pen and put a halter on the two older cria (aged two months). When the school group returned, we allowed four children at a time into the pen, and they had to respect the animals by trying to move slowly and quietly – a good lesson in husbandry. The cria were extremely responsive and positively lapped up all the gentle stroking and admiration. It was interesting to see that the mothers did not appear stressed, and before the visit was over two of them actually ate a tit-bit from four excited little hands – with giggles of, ‘Oh, it tickles my hand’. True to reputation, the un-haltered alpacas showed us how quietly they stand with no running off – rather taking a step nearer to investigate the situation. Initially it was most amusing to see how they bunched together, looked fi rst at the children then towards me as much as to say, ‘Friends or foe?’ The alpacas obviously could not decide whether to be defensive with these small humans! But quickly they were just standing and resignedly allowing their soft fl eece to be felt. There has never been any indication of them wanting to ‘see off’ any child. Having had all the conventional farm animals and ponies over the years, we cannot believe the different behaviour of alpacas. Whereas you would expect most animals to run out into the fi eld when fi nally let out, the alpacas just hung around looking inquisitively at the round-up of pupils, just out of reach. Their gentle behaviour transmits to the children who are so much quieter than usual. During their subsequent visits, we have shown the children how to take the cria for a walk along the yard, round the pond in a paddock and back to base. It is sheer joy for me to see such grins on the children’s faces and the obvious enjoyment of the cria, who behave even better with them than they do with me. It seems that they recognise and respond to other as youngsters. The main lesson to be taught to the school children before we can let them lead the cria is to show calm body-language. The children have to curb their natural exuberance, including fl inging about of arms and jumping, because their arms are at alpaca eye level and make the young cria pull back in alarm. The children have experienced something they have never dreamed of – as one said ‘Oh this is like being on telly’. <strong>Alpacas</strong> give everyone so much pleasure and it is lovely to be able to share this with the school visitors, and many adults as well. Whereas cattle can only be looked at, the alpacas can be touched. We have found this has given the shyest child so much confi dence. By the end of the visits almost all the children have stroked or walked a cria and a few have been brave enough to feel the adult fl eeces. What have the alpacas taught the visitors? To behave quietly and consider animals, to respect their habits, and a lot about South America. If the children had a cheque book we would have sold all the cria four times over! One nine year old gave me his telephone number to phone and tell his Dad when to come and collect two! •
Alpaca World Magazine Autumn 2004/05 57