vicuna
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The vicuna lives in small herds of 6–12 females with a lone male. The male keeps watch, uttering a shrill whistle at the least sign of danger, and acts to protect the retreating herd.
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Snowy volcanoes dominate the Lauca National Park, in the altiplano of northern Chile. This desert plateau, part of the Andes, is grazed by vicunas, animals of the camel family that were once hunted for their wool, but are now protected.
Ruminant mammal Lama vicugna of the camel family that lives in herds on the Andean plateau. It can run at speeds of 50 kph/30 mph. It has good eyesight, fair hearing, and a poor sense of smell. Hunted close to extinction for its meat and soft brown fur, which was used in textile manufacture, the vicuna is now a protected species. Its populations are increasing thanks to strict conservation measures; by 1996 they had reached 100,000–200,000. The vicuna is listed on CITES Appendix 2 (vulnerable).
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