The Synchronicity of Alpacas

Unpredictable weather conditions force us to seek a local destination for our Sunday walk. With this in mind we head west of the Erskine Bridge for a stroll around the hills and farm-roads behind Langbank. Lovely vantage points and views over the Firth of Clyde and Dumbarton Castle and exceptional vistas of Glasgow were gained.

As we descended down from the hills we came across a colony of inquisitive Alpacas. We are informed by a passing resident of the area that these beasts are renowned for their soft fur and kind nature. Further investigation reveals that Alpacas control their internal parasites by using a communal dung pile, where they do not graze. Generally, males have much tidier, and fewer dung piles than females who tend to stand in a line and all go at once. One female approaches the dung pile and begins to urinate and/or defecate, and the rest of the herd often follows.

Bizarre behaviour which if replicated by all farm stock would prove to be a positive time saver for farmers around the world ;-)