Where Does Guanaco Come from?

The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a camelid native to South America, closely related to the llama. Its name comes from the Quechua word huanaco (modern spelling wanaku). Young guanacos are called chulengos.

Where is guanaco found?

Guanacos live on land high in the Andes mountains—up to 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) above sea level—as well as on the lower plateaus, plains, and coastlines of Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Guanacos were once over hunted for their thick, warm wool. Now they thrive in areas protected by law.

What are llamas descended from?

Llamas are descendants of guanacos that were domesticated 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. People in the Andes raise them for wool, meat, and skin and also used them as pack animals. The result is the llama of today, which is the domesticated version of the guanaco—llamas don't exist in the wilderness.