Animal Spotlight, Guanaco

Guanacos are large mammals in the Camelidae family. The family is made up of camels, llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuna. With a weight ranging between 200 and 300 pounds, the guanaco is slightly larger than the alpaca, but smaller than the llama. They can reach heights between 3 to 4 feet tall at the shoulders. In the wild, they can be found in South America and ranging from Northern Peru to Southern Chile. They live in family groups that consist of one male and up to 10 females and young. Lifespan in the wild is 15-20 years and captivity can be up to 28 years.

Guanacos have a thick, woolly coat that can be light brown, brownish yellow, or a rusty red. Their belly, rump, and backs of their legs are usually white. The head, ears, and nape of the neck are gray. These colors help them blend into the grassland and desert in their native habitats. They have relatively small heads with no horns or antlers and a split upper lip. They have large eyes with thick lashes to protect them from the dust and dirt kicked up by heavy winds.  Two padded toes on each foot help with footing on rocky trails or growled slopes. The males and females are approximately the same size however, the males have significantly larger canines. Guanacos can run at speeds of 40 miles per hour and are strong swimmers.

Their diet consists of grass, shrubs, leaves, fruit, flowers, and lichens. In the zoo they eat herbivore pellets and hay. They don’t need to drink any water since they get all the moisture they need from their food.

In the wild timing of births is influenced by environmental conditions, but usually occurs in November and December. Gestation is 11 months and a single offspring can be born every year. The young are called chulengos and are able to stand shortly after birth.  Mothers defend their young and are aggressive towards predators. They are weaned at 4 to 8 months. Juveniles are expelled from family groups at 11 to 15 months. Sexual maturity is 2 years for females and 2 to 4 years for males.

Miller Park Zoo has 2 guanacos, Dot and Dash. Dot, the female, was born September 20, 2016. Dash, the male, was born October 20, 2014.  Dot is more inquisitive and more curious than Dash.  She does not understand personal boundaries and will get very close to keepers.  Dash is much more independent and doesn’t enjoy engaging with keepers as much.  Dot is the dominant animal in the pair and is much larger than Dash. Although they are male and female, they are not a breeding pair.

Conservation of this critically endangered species is very important. The wild population of guanacos has decreased drastically due to climate change and competition for resources with the local human population and their livestock. Miller Park Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of guanacos in the wild.