The llama and alpaca paddock, though divided in two by a fence, the gateway between the enclosures is left open effectively making this just one paddock.
Photo taken on the 20th of May 2009.
The llama and alpaca paddock, though divided in two by a fence, the gateway between the enclosures is left open effectively making this just one paddock.
Photo taken on the 20th of May 2009.
I asked for you today, here's what I was told:
In short, no, because they are all males.
BUT I was also told that even if there were females, the males of the other species would 'know' that they're different. I asked why, then, were other examples of llama-alpaca hybrids produced but I don't think my question was understood. The keeper just spoke slower and clearer; "We are related to gorillas, but we don't interbreed. Why not? We just 'know' that we're different." [sigh]
I wouldn't go that far - I think she just misunderstood my question and tried to clarify things for me; I just didn't really need any clarification of that 'concept'. I doubt she considered me a zoo geek, hybridisation seems a pretty standard question (i.e. acceptable from intelligent members of the public.)
I think the analogy isn't too far off, in terms of species relationships, as she had said that llamas and alpacas were camelids so she just chose two hominids to compare.
