セーターなどのニット類の素材としてお馴染みのアルパカ。南米大陸原産のこの動物は(羊ではなく)ラクダの一種だそうで(にゅっと伸びたあの首はそのせいかなどと妙に納得)、いまでもそのほとんどは南米にいるが、ニュージーランド、オーストラリア、オランダなどで家畜として飼われる例もあるという。何はともあれ、そんなアルパカの不思議な魅力を上手にとらえた写真を順番にみていこう。

30 枚のスライドの 1 枚目: 23 February 2018, Germany, Frankfurt am Main: A brown alpaca searches for body contact at the Frankfurt zoo. Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa (Photo by Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 2 枚目: Domino the Alpaca who looks like Ian Hislop, Devon, UK - 26 Apr 2017

30 枚のスライドの 3 枚目: An alpaca pictured in Mercury, France, 25 December 2017. Photo: Christophe Gateau/dpa (Photo by Christophe Gateau/picture alliance via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 4 枚目: Alpaca (Lama pacos) yearling herd, standing in pasture, England

30 枚のスライドの 5 枚目: An alpaca (Vicugna pacos) looks on at the zoo Wilhelma in Stuttgart, Germany, 26 March 2018.

30 枚のスライドの 6 枚目: KNUTSFORD, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 13: Alpacas graze on a field owned by farmer Khanikhah Guy at her country small holding on December 12, 2007, near the village of Pickmere, Knutsford, England. Alpacas are part of the camelids family and originate from the Andes. They are much sought after for their wool and coats which make high quality clothes and garments. Khanikhah's products and animals have become popular with the affluent and celebrity set of Cheshire with Alpacas becoming the latest new designer pet and costing up to GBP 5000. Socks made from the wool are her top selling Christmas present from her Artemis Alpacas Farm Shop. Shearing of the animals wool is done annually by a skilled shearer who flies to the UK from New Zealand. None of her animals are slaughtered for their fleeces and are only used after a natural death. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 7 枚目: An alpaca (R) munches on an autumn leaf in it's enclosure at the zoo in Frankfurt Main, Germany, 18 November 2014. Photo: FRANK RUMPENHORST/dpa | usage worldwide   (Photo by Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance via Getty Images)30 枚のスライドの 8 枚目: Baby alpaca born at Bocketts Farm, Surrey, UK - 21 Sep 2018

30 枚のスライドの 9 枚目: Aztec the injured Alpaca has his bad back fixed by an osteopath, Mordon Hall Alpaca Farm, Royston, Hertfordshire - 09 Aug 2009

30 枚のスライドの 10 枚目: A suri alpaca yawns in its pen at the British Alpaca Society National Show held at The International Centre in Telford, central England, on March 24, 2018.
The two-day British Alpaca Society National Show brings together alpacas from across the country vying to be awarded the title of 'Supreme Champion' in either the Huacaya or Suri fleece categories. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF        (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 11 枚目: Alpacas are seen at Sherlin Alpaca Stud farm in the Selwyn District in Christchurch, New Zealand on May 05, 2018. Alpaca were first imported to New Zealand in the late 1980s from Chile.  (Photo by Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 12 枚目: Alpacas are shown during 'Animal Show 2018' trade fair and exhibition in Krakow, Poland on 14 April, 2018. 
 (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 13 枚目: MOSCOW, RUSSIA  FEBRUARY 5, 2019: A baby alpaca at the 13th Agrofarm 2019 international exhibition for animal husbandry at Moscow's VDNKh exhibition centre. Sergei Karpukhin/TASS (Photo by Sergei Karpukhin\TASS via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 14 枚目: MOSCOW, RUSSIA  FEBRUARY 5, 2019: An alpaca at the 13th Agrofarm 2019 international exhibition for animal husbandry at Moscow's VDNKh exhibition centre. Sergei Karpukhin/TASS (Photo by Sergei Karpukhin\TASS via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 15 枚目: An alpaca is seen at Sherlin Alpaca Stud farm in the Selwyn District in Christchurch, New Zealand on May 05, 2018. Alpaca were first imported to New Zealand in the late 1980s from Chile.  (Photo by Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 16 枚目: Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) on  breeding farm located near Temuco in Chile. (Photo by: Edwin Remsburg/VW Pics via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 17 枚目: PALISADE, CO - APRIL 20: Alpacas look curiously around their enclosure at SunCrest Orchard Alpacas on April 20, 2016 in Palisade, Colorado. The farm specializes in alpacas, fiber processing and finished alpaca products. It is run by husband and wife team Mike and Cindy McDermott. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 18 枚目: TIANJIN, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 22: (CHINA MAINLAND OUT)A collection of alpacas ends the quarantine on 22th September, 2014 in Tianjin, China.2015 is Chinese year of goat, alpaca becomes the most shopping-rush animals in China.(Photo by TPG/Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 19 枚目: (GERMANY OUT) Zoologischer Garten Berlin / 5.7.2013 Frisoer Visit to the zoo at the alpacas. They are probably happy to release their thick wool at the warm temperatures. At the end of the week the Frisoer can go to the alpacas. The clipper freed the herd of their fur. Picture theme: an alpaca shearing (Photo by Olaf Wagner / ullstein picture via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 20 枚目: A curious alpaca looks into the camera at the Alpaca Park in Arendsee, Germany, 11 February 2013. Bernd Funke and his wife have been breeding alpacas since 2005 in Arendsee. Photo: PATRICK PLEUL | usage worldwide   (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 21 枚目: COVENTRY, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: An Alpaca named Wigeon waits to be judged at the British Alpaca Futurity Show being held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on March 11, 2011 in Coventry, England. The top British Alpacas are vying for many show honours ultimately seeking the accolade of Best in Show. Alongside the judging of the animals practical workshops in breeding and looking after Alpacas are taking place culminating in a fashion show of Alpaca clothing. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 22 枚目: SLUG: PG/FARM18. DATE: October, 8, 2007 CREDIT: Katherine Frey / TWP. Aquasco, MD. Angel Forbes and her 46-acre alpaca farm. Forbes has been raising alpacas for the past 10 years, but her farm has been owned by her family since 1802 A baby suri alpaca about 8-hours-old nuzzles its mother, Melissa at the farm. (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 23 枚目: A Baby Alpaca is Seen at an Exhibition Outside Parliament House in Canberra Australia 30 April 2015 Australia Canberra

30 枚のスライドの 24 枚目: New baby Alpaca nicknamed Marshmallow born at Woodlands Leisure Park, near Dartmouth, Britain - 08 Mar 2010

30 枚のスライドの 25 枚目: Alpaca farm in Droxford, Hampshire, Britain - 21 Jan 2013

30 枚のスライドの 26 枚目: Matyi the Newborn Alpaca Rests in Budapest Zoo's Southern American Paddock on Thursday 26 October 2006 the Baby Male was Born the Previous Day Hungary Budapest

30 枚のスライドの 27 枚目: Alpacas used to protect newborn lambs from foxes, Hurst, Berkshire, Britain - 09 Apr 2013

30 枚のスライドの 28 枚目: Alpaca. Parque Nacional Lauca. Chile. (Photo by: Marka/UIG via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 29 枚目: Some of the alpaca faces from Red Granite Ranch in Livermore, CO. Boulder County's annual Alpaca Extravaganza will continue Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont.(Photo by Cliff Grassmick/Digital First Media/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images)

30 枚のスライドの 30 枚目: MOSCOW, RUSSIA  FEBRUARY 5, 2019: Alpacas at the 13th Agrofarm 2019 international exhibition for animal husbandry at Moscow's VDNKh exhibition centre. Sergei Karpukhin/TASS (Photo by Sergei Karpukhin\TASS via Getty Images)