Vicuņas near Molinos.
Vicuņa live exclusively in South America, primarily in the central Andes. They live at an altitude of 3,200 to 4,800 metres and feed in daytime on the grassy plains of the Andes Mountains, but spend the nights on the slopes. The Vicuņa is one of two wild South American camelids, (along with the guanaco), living in the high alpine areas of the Andes. It is a relative of the llama, and is now believed to be the wild ancestor of domesticated alpacas, which are raised for their fibre. Vicuņas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive because the animal can only be shorn every 3 years. When knitted together, the product of the vicuņa's fur is very soft and warm. It is understood that the Inca valued vicuņas for their wool, and that it was against the law for any but royalty to wear vicuņa garments. (With thanks to Wikipedia for these details).