Latest news with #alpacas
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MPs back move to protect llamas and alpacas from dog attacks
Llamas and alpacas should receive legal protections from dog attacks, MPs have agreed. Dog owners already face a fine if their pet attacks or worries farm animals listed in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, such as cattle, sheep, pigs and horses. But after a Commons debate, MPs have agreed to add 'camelids' to this list, giving llamas and alpacas in England and Wales similar protections as they have in Scotland. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, which now faces further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date, will also see unlimited fines rolled out in dog attack cases, lifting a £1,000 cap. 'They're no laughing matter, alpacas and llamas,' Labour MP Peter Lamb said. 'The Inca empire never developed the wheel. 'The entirety of that empire was built off the back of alpacas and llamas and, as a result, they are an animal that's worthy of great respect.' Mr Lamb said he had heard of 'pretty harrowing cases of what happened to that livestock' at a centre in Tilgate Park in Crawley, West Sussex, where he was the borough council leader. 'In one case, a sheep was just literally set on fire whilst still alive and while the Bill does not directly deal with that, I think some of the mentality that goes into disrespecting these animals is worthy of note,' he said. 'But what we have done is very often, far more often than that, had dogs set on these animals, or at least, people have not been in control of these. 'And we've eventually had to remove the sheep entirely from the publicly accessible areas on the basis of that.' Conservative MP for Chester South and Eddisbury Aphra Brandreth, who proposed the private member's Bill, told the Commons: 'Livestock worrying, as we know, has devastating consequences for both animals and farmers.' She added: 'The damage of a livestock attack can be horrific, causing brutal injuries which are tragically often fatal. 'There are instances of stress causing pregnant livestock to miscarry, and separation of mothers and young leading to hypothermia or starvation. 'I've seen pictures from farmers in my constituency where attacks have mutilated their calves beyond any hope of keeping them alive. 'The consequences, no matter what the scale of an attack, are profound.' As part of the draft new law, authorities would get the powers to treat attacking livestock as separate to 'worrying', which includes chasing farm animals in a way which could cause injury, suffering or loss or 'diminution in their produce'. The Bill would also expand the 1953 Act's scope, which applies on agricultural land, to roads and paths, where animals might be herded. Labour MP Mike Reader praised Ms Brandreth for her 'responsible and balanced approach'. The Northampton South MP said it was 'positive that this expands that definition to roads and paths, because it sets clear requirements that when someone is accessing land, particularly throughout Northamptonshire where there're so many paths that run through farmland, there's a clear definition in the law to both protect farmers but also to set clear boundaries for those who are perhaps walking their dogs… when they access farmland'. Environment minister Emma Hardy said the Government was 'fully committed to supporting this important Bill as it progresses through the other place', before the Bill cleared the Commons at third reading.
CBS News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes new herd of alpacas to Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo's newest residents, a herd of alpacas, are calling Chicago home for the first time in 6 years. The herd of six female alpacas range in ages from 1 to 24 years old. The group consists of Zsa Zsa, Starlight, Sara, Maya, Grettle, and Gracie all of which now reside in the southernmost habitat of the zoo. Alpacas are known to be gentle and outgoing, expressing themselves through head tilts and neck posturing. Lincoln Park Zoo has not had alpacas in its residence since 2019. Lincoln Park Zoo "These six ladies have quickly won over their care team with their sweet personalities and friendly demeanors," said zoo curator Dan Boehm in a statement. "It's great to welcome back such a beloved species to Lincoln Park Zoo, and we're excited for people to meet the new herd!" For more information about the species, visit the Lincoln Park's Zoo website.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Residents at care home enjoy visit from 'therapeutic' alpacas
Residents at a Peterborough care home were surprised by a visit from some alpacas. The group of animals from Gorefield Alpacas spent the day at Longueville Court care home on May 28. The residents and their families spent the afternoon feeding the alpacas and learning about them. Longueville Court care home residents enjoy alpaca visit (Image: Longueville Court care home) General manager Krzysztof Krzysztofiak said: "Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors today. "We knew that having Gorefield Alpacas here would be a bit of fun for all our residents, especially as some find it difficult to go on many outings in our minibus. "We are always looking for new activities for the residents and today we have seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence animals can have on people." Longueville Court care home residents enjoy alpaca visit (Image: Longueville Court care home) Teal Cunningham, a resident at the care home, said: "As a child I used to love all the animals on the nearby farm. "Today was very enjoyable, and it was wonderful that the animals were here and we got to feed them." Longueville Court care home provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 104 residents. Keep up to date with the latest news across Peterborough by signing up to our newsletter email alerts here Have you got a story you want to share with us? Get in touch at: news@
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barnyard shenanigans! Three alpacas escape from Cedar Point petting zoo
There's been another great escape from Cedar Point's Barnyard. Last summer, camels and then goats took a stroll along the Sandusky amusement park's Frontier Trail. This time alpacas − three of them − escaped from the petting zoo area and strolled through the park. Unlike last year's incident where park guests opened gates for the critters to escape, Cedar Point spokesman Tony Clark said the incident May 9 happened while a third-party worker was cleaning an area of the petting zoo and left a gate unattended. Clark said the alpacas then began walking along the park's railroad tracks in the Frontier Trail area behind the Millennium roller coaster. Park guest Laura Steuk-Mastropaola was on the Cedar Point & Lake Erie train when the alpacas came waltzing up to the station where passengers were boarding. "I am used to herds of animals but not alpacas," said the Berlin Heights resident. "Ironically, we run a therapeutic horsemanship program near Sandusky (the Boots to Grasses Therapeutic Horsemanship Program) so seeing animals that were not horses come cantering toward us was even funnier." She caught the caper on video before park workers were able to wrangle the alpacas and return them to The Barnyard. After last year's two escapes, Cedar Point said it had implemented additional measures to ensure there would not be any further escapes. The Barnyard is home to a variety of animals, including cows, sheep, piglets, turtles, ducks and donkeys. Clark said none of the alpacas or park guests were injured in the mishap on May 9. Honey Hill Farms in Kentucky provides the animals and workers at the Barnyard at Cedar Point. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cedar Point has to corral three alpacas that escaped from petting zoo
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch: Animals run loose from Cedar Point petting zoo
SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW) – Three of Cedar Point's four-legged residents went for a run after getting out of the park's petting zoo on Friday. According to a Cedar Point spokesperson, 'this morning, three alpacas from The Barnyard were observed walking along the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad tracks.' As seen above, a park guest captured video of the three animals running by the stopped train. Krayzie Bone working to improve Glenville neighborhood with 'Harmony District' Park officials said their pens had been unlocked by a third-party operator during cleaning. The animals were quickly returned to The Barnyard, park officials said. This isn't the first time animals were caught on camera running loose at Cedar Point. Last June, as FOX 8 previously reported, two camels were seen outside of the petting zoo, becoming spooked by nearby guests. The next week, videos showed goats outside of their habitat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
