Save alpacas from dying of cold




As we announced before, we launch this new campaign on Indiegogo, an iniciative created to give the appropiate solution to most of the problems we described previously, a great work developed by the team.


A campaign to save alpacas and on a secondary level to help herders who take care of them. We show how you can help and the small rewards you can get in exchange of your contribution.

https://igg.me/at/ZGjXgPaVYBc/x/13530114

Save Alpacas from dying of cold

A campaign created to help the alpacas, a species that has suffered for so long, and this will continue if we do not act, so we decided to create a campaign on INDIEGOGO to help these animals with the purchase of medicines, vitamins, veterinary visits not only when they get sick but also to control their health and feeding. Furthermore, something very important, the construction of shelters to protect them. And finally the creation of an organization to take care of welfare and reproduction of this species, which hundreds of thousands of them die and disappear because of cold.

We share our Project

Wrongful death of these animals, the lack of interest among people and the incompetence to solve the problems, are the reasons that have led us to start a new project.

Discussing with the members of the team, we decided to form a task force to save Camelids, fragile and vulnerable animals, a group that will take care of the needs,ensure their survival and also increase their population.

This will be achieved by working with communities, we will seek the necessary funds to achieve our goals and with a good organizationaid will get to these helpless animals.

The first step is launching a campaign on a virtual platform collection and achieve together the necessary funds to provide support, that is why we need your help to successfully complete this noble work.

Wait for our next post to see every advances of this campaign, thanks

Peru's Cold Temperatures Kill At Least 133 Alpaca

People too have been killed by complications related to the extreme cold wave sweeping the southern Andes.

At least 133 alpaca died of starvation during heavy snowfall in Peru earlier this August, according to the Huamanga farming agency. Video footage released this week shows the devastating effect it has had on the local community.

According to Reuters, the mayor of the Cojata region, Alfonso Ojedo, said Monday, "There are no grasslands ... the alpaca's fields are fully covered over, pure white, so the little alpaca are sad, some of them are about to die, some have died."

Temperatures as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius in the Vinchos district in the south of Peru led to the deaths of the animals, which are vital for locals for food and transport as well as for their fleece.

Some areas saw 50 centimeters of snowfall, which covered the high plains where the alpaca normally graze – some 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) above sea level.

Local authorities are calling for support for the some 3,000 local alpaca farmers.

"There are no crops, there is no hay, no potatoes, so we are asking for feed for our animals because everything is covered in snow," said Lieutenant Governor of Cojata, Roberto Mamano.

While the total number of dead animals is relatively low, the total number of animals affected is estimated at 2,672.

The cold wave hitting Peru’s southern Andes has also affected children and created a pandemic of respiratory diseases through the year, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 

"http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Perus-Cold-Temperatures-Kill-At-Least-133-Alpaca-20150819-0008.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

People too have been killed by complications related to the extreme cold wave sweeping the southern Andes.
At least 133 alpaca died of starvation during heavy snowfall in Peru earlier this August, according to the Huamanga farming agency. Video footage released this week shows the devastating effect it has had on the local community.

According to Reuters, the mayor of the Cojata region, Alfonso Ojedo, said Monday, "There are no grasslands ... the alpaca's fields are fully covered over, pure white, so the little alpaca are sad, some of them are about to die, some have died."

Temperatures as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius in the Vinchos district in the south of Peru led to the deaths of the animals, which are vital for locals for food and transport as well as for their fleece.

Some areas saw 50 centimeters of snowfall, which covered the high plains where the alpaca normally graze – some 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) above sea level.

Local authorities are calling for support for the some 3,000 local alpaca farmers.

"There are no crops, there is no hay, no potatoes, so we are asking for feed for our animals because everything is covered in snow," said Lieutenant Governor of Cojata, Roberto Mamano.

While the total number of dead animals is relatively low, the total number of animals affected is estimated at 2,672.

The cold wave hitting Peru’s southern Andes has also affected children and created a pandemic of respiratory diseases through the year, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 
 "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Perus-Cold-Temperatures-Kill-At-Least-133-Alpaca-20150819-0008.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

People too have been killed by complications related to the extreme cold wave sweeping the southern Andes.
At least 133 alpaca died of starvation during heavy snowfall in Peru earlier this August, according to the Huamanga farming agency. Video footage released this week shows the devastating effect it has had on the local community.

According to Reuters, the mayor of the Cojata region, Alfonso Ojedo, said Monday, "There are no grasslands ... the alpaca's fields are fully covered over, pure white, so the little alpaca are sad, some of them are about to die, some have died."

Temperatures as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius in the Vinchos district in the south of Peru led to the deaths of the animals, which are vital for locals for food and transport as well as for their fleece.

Some areas saw 50 centimeters of snowfall, which covered the high plains where the alpaca normally graze – some 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) above sea level.

Local authorities are calling for support for the some 3,000 local alpaca farmers.

"There are no crops, there is no hay, no potatoes, so we are asking for feed for our animals because everything is covered in snow," said Lieutenant Governor of Cojata, Roberto Mamano.

While the total number of dead animals is relatively low, the total number of animals affected is estimated at 2,672.

The cold wave hitting Peru’s southern Andes has also affected children and created a pandemic of respiratory diseases through the year, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 
 "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Perus-Cold-Temperatures-Kill-At-Least-133-Alpaca-20150819-0008.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

People too have been killed by complications related to the extreme cold wave sweeping the southern Andes.
At least 133 alpaca died of starvation during heavy snowfall in Peru earlier this August, according to the Huamanga farming agency. Video footage released this week shows the devastating effect it has had on the local community.

According to Reuters, the mayor of the Cojata region, Alfonso Ojedo, said Monday, "There are no grasslands ... the alpaca's fields are fully covered over, pure white, so the little alpaca are sad, some of them are about to die, some have died."

Temperatures as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius in the Vinchos district in the south of Peru led to the deaths of the animals, which are vital for locals for food and transport as well as for their fleece.

Some areas saw 50 centimeters of snowfall, which covered the high plains where the alpaca normally graze – some 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) above sea level.

Local authorities are calling for support for the some 3,000 local alpaca farmers.

"There are no crops, there is no hay, no potatoes, so we are asking for feed for our animals because everything is covered in snow," said Lieutenant Governor of Cojata, Roberto Mamano.

While the total number of dead animals is relatively low, the total number of animals affected is estimated at 2,672.

The cold wave hitting Peru’s southern Andes has also affected children and created a pandemic of respiratory diseases through the year, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 
 "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Perus-Cold-Temperatures-Kill-At-Least-133-Alpaca-20150819-0008.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 
 "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Perus-Cold-Temperatures-Kill-At-Least-133-Alpaca-20150819-0008.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

Peru Alpaca, vicuña-fiber garment appreciated at Pure London 2016 fair

London (UK), Feb. 17. Peruvian participation at Pure London Fair was successful, the Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Alpaca and vicuña fiber garments plus accessories were appreciated by thousands of attendees to London's most important textile and fashion event, which led to consolidating deals worth US$100,000.

Peruvian enterprises Kuna, Raffa, Jenny Duarte and Velavera put their exclusive baby alpaca, royal alpaca and vicuña-fiber clothes on display, which stood out thanks to their high quality.

The Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry —represented by Peru's London-based Trade Office (OCEX) and PromPeru— supported the participation of national companies with the purpose of promoting their internationalization and positioning national brands on foreign markets. 

Minister Magali Silva stressed the fact that Pure London became an important platform for the promotion of Peruvian Alpaca brand; a strategy, which has contributed to exhibiting alpaca-fiber products overseas, as well as to promoting national exports.

Within this framework, Peruvian businesspeople held meetings with diverse clients and established new contacts with 134 purchasers from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Jordan, Italy, United States, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and China. 

Pure London saw the participation of 7,000 attendees among representatives of department stores and boutique chains, purchasers, agents and members of the media.

(END) RGP/RGP/AVV/MVB

Published: 2/17/2016

Original

http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/noticia-peru-alpaca-vicunafiber-garment-appreciated-at-pure-london-2016-fair-599430.aspx

A shadow that disturbed thousands of alpacas victims of the intense cold. This animals which care is part of the activities of the native people. The villagers were really alarmed because they are their only source of income. “El tiempo”, try to illustrate this problem in the article published.

Una sombra que perturbo a cientos de miles de alpacas, victimas del intenso frio, estos animales, que forman parte de la vida de los pastores del lugar, se vieron  realmente alarmados ya que estos significan la única fuente de ingresos, “el tiempo”, nos trata de ilustrar este problema en el artículo que publico.

The cold that has claimed over 400 deaths in Peru has also affected herds of alpacas in the highlands of the country, where only in the Puno region 480 000 animals are endangered.

A child carries a dead alpaca in the cold Andean community of Puno, southeastern Peru. EFE

That amount represents 25 per cent of the group of this camelid living in the Peruvian region representing for many families their main source of livelihood.

The lack of food and shelter to protect alpacas from these low temperatures, that in some points have reached 23 degrees below zero, worries the alpaca owners of the area, struggling to avoid the humane killing of their animals.

Thus, people must devote constant attention to their animals, which often causes the respiratory diseases of the children to occupy a second level of importance.

"In the field, parents prefer to give more attention to livestock, because that activity generates them the only income to support her family," said the magistrate Hanajquia community, Daniel Calcina.

So far this year 409 people have died as a result of pneumonia associated with low temperatures.

Lima, EFE. July 26, 2010

We will be in the next release. Thanks for your attention.

Nos encontraremos en la siguiente publicación, gracias por su atención

When natural disasters, such as a volcanic eruption, arise many problems, and the most affected are people and animals that make their living in the vicinity of the volcano, article published by "independet.ie", tells us what happened when going to areas near the volcano.

Cuando fuerzas poderosas, como la de la erupción de un volcán y todo lo que ello conlleva, surgen distintos problemas, y los más afectados son las personas y animales que por motivos ajenos a ellos, hacen su vida en la cercanía de un volcán, el artículo publicado por “independet.ie”, nos relata lo que ocurrió al entrar un volcán en erupción.

4,000 evacuated as volcano erupts 

Peruvian authorities have ordered the preventative evacuation of 4,000 people living near the Ubinas volcano, which has been spouting ash clouds up to two miles (nearly 4km) high.

The Andina state news agency quoted Agriculture Minister Juan Benites as saying it will take three days to move the residents of two southern districts and their 30,000 sheep, cows, horses, burros and other animals.

Peru's health ministry said about 40 people have complained of eye inflammation and stomach problems from ash that has been falling from Ubinas since March 29.

The 18,609ft (5,672m) volcano is Peru's most active. It most recent strong eruption period occurred from 2006-2009.

Press Association

Hundreds of people have been affected by low temperatures registered this year, and need to receive assistance as soon as possible. The next article published in “peruthisweek” tell us how aid reaches the people.

Cuando cientos de personas necesitan ayuda, se debe socorrerlas lo antes posible, miles de personas fueron afectadas por las bajas temperaturas registradas ese año, el siguiente aritculo publicado en “peruthisweek”, nos relata como es que llega la ayuda para estas personas vulneradas.

Puno: 560 baby alpaca dead in last 48 hours

by Diego M. Ortiz

Humala travels to Puno to supervise relief effort.

The President of Peru, Ollanta Humala, traveled to the Carabaya province, in the region of Puno, this Tuesday to supervise the relief effort after a severe snowstorm stranded thousands of families and killed hundreds of animals in that region.

Humala was involved in a telephone conversation with the regional President of Puno, Mauricio Rodríguez, to coordinate aid to that area of the country.

Peru’s head of state left for Puno at approximately 2 p.m., accompanied by the Minister of housing, construction and sanitation, René Conejos.

The president ordered the immediate shipment of humanitarian aid for the population affected by the low temperatures and heavy snowfall.

He brought with him 10,000 blankets, 13, 000 articles of warm clothing, 9,000 food kits (consisting of breakfast, lunch and dinner), as well as mattresses and other goods.

Local officials in Puno reported that out of the thousands of isolated families, the majority were producers dedicated to the breeding of alpacas. They live together with their animals in areas away from the towns.

The mayor of one district in Carabaya reported that 560 baby alpaca died in the last 48 hours due to lack of food. The situation may deteriorate in the following days as the melting snow mixed with natural grasses usually causes diarrhea in those animals, leading to death.

According to local officials, there is great concern regarding children, as more than 200 of them in that province already showed signs of respiratory diseases.

August 27, 2013

We will be in the next release. Thanks for your attention.

Nos encontraremos en la siguiente publicación, gracias por su atención

Microchips to save Peru's alpacas

Peru has launched a campaign to implant microchips in hundreds of pedigree alpacas to try to stop the best animals being smuggled out of the country. Officials say they know alpacas are being sneaked across Peru's borders. 
The microchips, inserted into the neck, will allow them to keep tabs on the best animals and safeguard the gene pool of its three million-strong herd.
Alpacas, which are related to camels and produce fine wool, are increasingly popular among US and European breeders.
"We know that alpacas are being moved across the border with Bolivia and then on to Chile," Pilar Tuppia from Peru's National Council of South American Camelids told the Associated Press.
This included "unscrupulous individuals" buying top animals from poor people in the countryside, she said.

Peruvian law bans the exportation of alpacas that win pedigree certificates. The microchips surgically inserted into the animals' neck muscles will carry identification codes that can be read by hand-held scanners.
The plan is to tag some 900 top alpacas within five years.
Alpacas, along with related llamas, vicunas and guanacos, are native to South America but are increasingly popular in other parts of the world - not only for their fleeces.

They also make tasty, lean steaks. 

ALPACA FACTS

Native habitat: South America

Number in S America: 3.5m

First domesticated: 4,000 BC

Adult height: 1 metre

Adult weight: 50-80 kg

Average lifespan: 15 - 20 years

ORIGINAL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3733037.stm

 

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Alpacas

By Andrew Amelinckx on September 28, 2015

Philippe Lavoie/Wikimedia

Sure, you know alpacas are cute, with their big doe eyes, long lashes, and soft coats. But here are 10 things we bet you didn't know about our favorite South American camelids. 

1) There are only two breeds, the huacaya (wuh-kai-ya), which has fluffy hair akin to a teddy bear, and the suri (pronounced like Katie Holmes’ daughter’s name), with long wavy hair that hangs off its body.

2) Like their cousins the llamas, alpacas spit when angry or annoyed. Faith Perkins, who owns Quarry Ridge Farm in Salem, New York, where she and her husband, Herb, have a herd of 25 huacayas, says the animals usually reserve this activity for each other when quarreling over food, but may let one fly in your direction if you happen to be giving them shots or trimming their nails.

3) Alpacas have soft pads on their feet, which don’t churn up the ground like a cow or horse’s hooves do.

4) When alpaca eat grass, they snip off the top of the plant unlike some other animals that pull the grass up by the root when eating. (Which is why they have a reputation for being good lawnmowers.)

5) They “cush” when seated, meaning they fold their legs under their body making them easy to transport in a smaller vehicle.

6) Alpacas’ tails are used to express feelings to each other. If they’re bothered by something they will twitch it back and forth. If an animal is being submissive it will raise its tail over its body and crouch down.

7) The animals have interesting pooping habits. “In the middle of the barn we have a box that looks almost like a kitty litter box but not as deep. They do all their business there,” says Perkins, who adds the behavior is “a throwback to their days in the high desert down in South America,” which allowed a stud to more easily determine which group of females was ready for breeding. The male would sniff out whether any of the ladies had high estrogen levels cluing him in on which group to check out for receptive females.

8) Mothers almost always have their babies in the morning. Perkins says this is also related to life in the high desert in South America where temperatures are very cold at night. By having their babies in the morning, the little ones will have the whole day to dry off, begin walking around, and nursing from the mother before the temperatures begin to drop.

9) Females have an 11-month gestation period and about 90 percent of the time don’t need help in the delivery of the babies. “They just go into labor and deliver the baby within an hour,” says Perkins.

10) Alpacas love to sunbathe. “You’ll come home and all the alpacas will be laying out in the field. They lie down on their sides, stretch out and soak up that sun,” says Perkins. She admits “it’s pretty scary if you don’t know what they’re doing” since they kind of look like they’ve dropped dead.

ORIGINAL: http://modernfarmer.com/2015/09/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-alpacas/

South American countries gripped by snow

 

Unusually cold weather and snow in parts of South America have affected thousands of people in several countries.
The cold spell has killed at least seven people in Peru, four in Bolivia and two in Paraguay.
In the latter, the authorities blamed the weather for the death of more than 5,000 cattle too.
Weather forecasters say a cold front from Antarctica entered the region almost a week ago.
On Friday, the Peruvian deputy education minister, Martin Vegas, said schools were closed in 43 provinces in 10 regions.
"They will remain closed next week as more snowfalls have been forecast," he said.
Thousands of llamas and alpacas have died in the cold weather.
Peruvian President Ollanta Humala visited some of the worst affected areas earlier this week.
He said blankets and alpaca covers were needed, as well as medicines and clothes.
In Bolivia, roads closed by the snow have disrupted supplies to mines in the province of Inquisivi, in La Paz.
Work in five mines in the region, which employ thousands of workers, had to be suspended since last weekend because of the snow.
Correspondents say they were running out of supplies.
One of the driest places on earth, the Atacama desert in northern Chile, also saw snow earlier this week.
Forecasters said the snowfall was the heaviest in the area, about 1,000km (600 miles) north of the capital Santiago, in three decades.

ORIGINAL: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-23907186

Alpacas get genetic helping hand

By Dan Collyns BBC News, Macusani, Peru

For centuries, the alpaca has sustained the indigenous people of the Andean highlands in Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile.

The animal has become a symbol of this snow-capped region, but farmers in Peru are concerned that wool quality is declining and fear that the genetic pool of the world's largest alpaca industry may deteriorate dramatically.

They are also concerned about increasing competition from countries like Australia and New Zealand, which, thanks to more advanced technology and greater resources, have enjoyed great success in their alpaca breeding programmes.

But now, with funding from the French Embassy in Peru and the British charity Oxfam, a programme has begun to help the genetic improvement of alpacas in the southern region of Puno - one of the poorest parts of the country and home to 1.6 million alpacas.

Ideal habitat

The town of Macusani, in Puno, prides itself on being the alpaca capital of the world.

At 4,700 metres (15,400 feet) above sea level, the air is thin and freezing, the sun fierce and the earth supports little but sparse tufts of yellowing grass.

But while little flourishes in this harsh landscape, it is the ideal habitat for llamas, and their smaller, woollier cousins, the alpacas.

Alpaca wool is warmer than sheep's - and much lighter

The people in Macusani seem to adore the creature.

Its ample, thick wool provides them with the warmth that's vital in the cold highlands of the Andean Carabaya Cordillera, where many people live in huts made out of adobe mud bricks or stones.

Its gamey meat is a valuable source of protein and its docile nature makes it easy to domesticate.

But there is also great international demand for alpaca wool as a luxury product - it's extremely warm, lighter than sheep's wool and softer to the touch.

National forum

Miles away from Macusani, a cluster of stone dwellings perch on the side of a valley. All around it a herd of placid llamas and alpacas graze on the thin grass.

Here Miguel Cano, 79, and his wife Micaela, have raised 14 children and thousands of alpacas in the last 50 years.

With no help from the state or local government until now, he put his children through school and university on the proceeds of alpaca farming.

His daughter, Teodora Cano, is president of the regional branch of the Peruvian Society of Llama and Alpaca Breeders (Spar).

"We owe everything to the alpaca. Now we have a national forum we can ensure that all alpaca farmers are paid a fair price for their wool," she says.

"Anything which improves the quality of the wool will help alpaca farmers."

Mountain laboratory

Zenon Choquehuanca, the director of the alpaca genetic improvement project, wants to redress what he sees as the unfair advantage more developed countries have in their breeding programmes.

"Australia and other countries which breed alpacas bought in Peru have used the highest technology for their genetic improvement", he said.

"It's our aim to do the same here in Peru."

Mr Choquehuanca explains that an alpaca's fleece is judged by two criteria - volume and fineness.

Now using the new technology they can measure the number of hair follicles per square centimetre as well as the diameter of the individual hairs - the finer the hairs, the better the wool.

Located in isolated mountain splendour is the Munay Paq'ocha laboratory - the name means "beautiful alpaca" in the indigenous Quechua language.

Alpaca wool is washed and heated in a stove before the fat in each hair is measured to assess the elasticity of the fibre. The fibres are then weighed.

Using a microscope the diameter of fibres is measured - the thinner the fibres the better the wool.

This information is cross-referenced with the birth date and birth weight of the alpacas and enables those with the optimum characteristics to be bred together.

"As they see their lives improve through the science applied to their farming practices the alpaca farmers will learn so they can effectively improve their breeding stock," he says.

Alpaca breeder Temistocles Riquelme Ardiles attests to the alpaca's greatness.

Wearing a woollen poncho he stands in the freezing winds among hundreds of Suris - a variety of alpaca - on the bare plains near his home.

"I love the Alpaca like a beautiful woman, she gives me warmth and comfort, food and a bed - she gives me everything," he says as he grabs one of the alpacas around the neck and kisses it firmly.

The mayor of Carabaya region, Michel Portier - a Frenchman who has lived in Peru for 18 years - has secured the financial backing to establish the programme.

"The genetic selection of alpacas directly affects the quality of life of the people who live here and helps the fight against poverty," he says.

"Agriculture is a risky business at this altitude - some years we have such a cold frost that it can kill a whole crop.

"The only reliable resource the people have here is the alpaca."

The science of genetic improvement could finally make Macusani not just the spiritual home of the alpaca but the commercial home too. 

ORIGINAL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6066610.stm

An article that deals with the animals that we want to rescue. We can see that their worst enemy is not only being cold, but also humans. Learn more about this story published by “Fox News”.

Un artículo que tiene que ver con los animales que tratamos de cuidar, y que no solo tienen como enemigos el intenso frio si no también, el mismo hombre, entérate un poco mas de esta historia publicada por “Fox News”.

(articulo solo en ingles)

Ohio Alpaca Owner Hopes Animal's Killing Leads to Tougher Laws

The owner of a baby alpaca that was tortured and beaten to death last month hopes some good will come from the senseless killing, as a state lawmaker continues to push for tougher animal cruelty laws in Ohio. Jeff Pergram said he has buried his "loving and caring" 3-month-old alpaca, Masterpiece, who was found in an abandoned barn in southwest Ohio on Feb. 19. Shocked and "disheartened" by the killing, Pergram says he plans to install security cameras along the perimeter of his Middletown farm to ward off any future attacks on his beloved animals. "It's hard to look out there and see he's not there now," Pergram told FoxNews.com. "He was a real inquisitive guy. He was like a dog, he wanted to be right next to you, to nuzzle you." Pergram said Masterpiece's friendliness probably led to his demise. "He was way different," Pergram continued. "And it's a different generation of people we're raising right now."

Two 17-year-old boys have been charged in juvenile court with vandalism, theft, animal cruelty, breaking and entering and tampering with evidence related to the death of Masterpiece, whose value has been estimated at $8,000. The youths remain in custody at a juvenile detention center pending a March 30 hearing. Prosecutors want their case transferred to adult court, where they'd face harsher penalties if convicted. A grand jury also is considering whether to indict Stacie Mullin, 22, of Madison Township, Ohio, who allegedly drove the boys to and from Pergram's farm in connection to the killing. Alpacas, which are similar to llamas, are native to South America and are prized for their wool. According to a national registry, nearly 25,000 alpacas, roughly 20 percent of the nation's total, are kept in Ohio. In the wake of Masterpiece's beating death and reports of another missing alpaca in the area, Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, says it's time to pass Ohio House Bill 55, which would toughen animal cruelty laws in the state.

"Let's get this bill going," Combs told FoxNews.com. "How can you explain the mind that works that way, that would abuse a helpless animal? There's something wrong there." Combs proposed the bill in late 2007, but it has stalled in the Ohio Legislature. He hopes the high-profile killing of Masterpiece and the second missing animal will push the bill into law. Since Masterpiece was found bloodied and beaten, Combs says he's received calls from concerned alpaca owners. "They are afraid for their animals," he said. "And they are very, very popular in Ohio. Some people call Ohio 'Little Peru' because there are [more alpacas] here than any other place outside of Peru. Isn't that amazing?"

A Web site dedicated to Masterpiece and a companion Facebook page with more than 1,500 fans has generated strong reactions to the animal's killing. Some users sent letters to local lawmakers urging passage of Combs' bill. Gary Simpson, who raises 15 alpacas on a farm near Brookville, Ohio, told the Cincinnati Enquirer that "everybody's sense of security has been shaken" since Masterpiece's killing. Combs' bill would toughen sentencing provisions of animal cruelty statutes in Ohio and require treatment for juvenile offenders.

He is also considering proposing the creation of an animal abuser registry, much like a database that tracks sex offenders. A similar effort has recently been proposed by a California lawmaker. But Robin Piper, Butler County's prosecutor, thinks the current version of Combs' bill doesn't do enough.

"House Bill 55 would allow animal cruelty, animal torture, or the malicious killing of an animal to be a misdemeanor," he said in a March 5 statement. "That's not good enough.". Piper said the bill, as currently written, only requires psychological counseling when an animal is a "companion animal" like a cat or dog. Alpacas, meanwhile, are livestock animals and as such, the corresponding animal cruelty charge carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail. "This requirement should be more comprehensive and put into place anytime a juvenile is involved in animal cruelty, malicious injury, or torture of an animal -- regardless of what type of animal is involved," Piper's statement continued.

Piper said the state's "antiquated" animal cruelty laws need to be revised. "It doesn't make sense that someone can steal $500 worth of scrap metal and it's a felony, yet they can maliciously beat, torture, or kill and an animal worth thousands of dollars, and it's only a misdemeanor," he said. "I'm not trying to go on a crusade, but the law needs to be much stronger than it is."

We will be in the next release. Thanks for your attention.

Nos encontraremos en la siguiente publicación, gracias por su atención

The next article published by “Nature News”, show us that nature does not distinguish between animals and humans, an approach to the tough times the locals and their flock (camelids) went through.

El siguiente artículo publicado por “NatureWorld News”, nos demuestra que la madre naturaleza no distingue entre hombre y animales, un acercamiento a los difíciles momentos que tuvieron que pasar tanto los pastores como su rebaño(alpacas)

(articulo solo en ingles)

Snow Blanketing South America Kills 250,000 Alpacas, at Least 5 People Dead

(photo:reuters)

Approximately 250,000 alpacas have died as a result of the worst snowfall Peru has seen in a decade, and the unexpectedly intense blast of winter weather has claimed livestock and human life in other parts of South America as well.

A cold weather front from the Antarctic began to spread across South America earlier this week, with some regions devastated by the snowfall, and others reveling in it. Heavy snow fell upon a large swath of South America, from Peru and Bolivia in the northwest to Paraguay and Brazil in the southeast.

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso declared state of emergency in the nation's southern Puno region, where the snow has isolated thousands of families who make their living by breeding alpacas.

One unnamed Peruvian woman told reuters that villagers have been trying to reach their herds for three days without success.

At least five people have died as a result of the cold weather across the southern hemisphere continent, where it is still winter. In Bolivia heavy snowfall claimed three lives and in neighboring Paraguay two people reportedly died of hypothermia due to the cold font, which has killed 4,000 cattle and affected 30 percent of the nation's wheat crop, according to a report by the AFP.

Ruined wheat crops will drive up the price of what remains, Paraguay's agriculture minister Jorge Gattini said.

The icy blanket of snow covering Peru and Bolivia prevented alpacas and other livestock from being able to graze on the land, resulting in their starvation and subsequent death, according to a Reuters report.

In Bolivia's capital, La Paz, temperatures were 8 or 9 degrees Celsius below average, Al Jazeera reported, adding that the Atacama Desert in Chile, often regarded as one of the driest places on Earth, saw the heaviest snowfall the region has seen in 30 years.

In Brazil the snow was seen as a treat, as told by a Reuters report, which featured Brazilians happily playing in the winter snow.

We will be in the next release. Thanks for your attention.

Nos encontraremos en la siguiente publicación, gracias por su atención