Why is the Vicuna in Peru’s national shield?

The vicuna, the alpaca and the llama are world known camelids that represent the south American Andes. But the vicuna has a special meaning for Peru, and understanding why the vicuna is a national symbol in Peru explains its presence as part of one of the country’s patriotic symbols: the national shield.

As Peruvian clothing manufacturers, we would like to share with you the reason why this animal is Peru’s national shield. Continue reading!

How did the Vicuna turn into a national symbol?

The vicuna became a national symbol in 1825, when it was chosen to represent the animal kingdom on Peru’s national shield as a reflection of the country’s natural wealth and unique biodiversity. That’s how the vicuna, famous for its fine wool became the species that represents the animal kingdom.

From that year on, the vicuna was never removed from the shield and it's now also part of the most important document in the country: the ID.

You might also like: The Alpaca Industry in Peru

Vicuna importance in Peru

The vicuna is a beautiful camelid with one of the finest fibers in the world and because of that, one of the most expensive textiles. From ancestral times, the vicuna has had great socioeconomic and cultural importance for the Andean communities and it is a species protected by international and national law. Peru is the first producer of vicuna’s fiber in the world.

The vicuna has a high economic value because of its fine fiber and all the knitwear it can be made with. This animal lives away from the people, in desertic areas. It is smaller than the alpaca with 1.8 meters of height and it can weigh around 40 or 50 kilograms.

It has a light brown color with white on the back and paws. These colors change depending on the regions where they live.

We can find vicunas in these Peruvian regions: Áncash, Apurímac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huánuco, Ica, Junín, La Libertad, Lima, Moquegua, Pasco, Puno and Tacna.

The vicunas have long and thin legs fit to walk over different kinds of surface, even rocky ones. This animal lives on the highlands, more than 3.200 meters above sea level with dry and cold weather. Like other camelids, the vicuna is herbivore.

According to the last vicuna’s census made in 2012, there are 208.899 specimens in the Peruvian territory. It is estimated that those numbers have doubled and a new census is pending.

 You might also like: What makes alpaca fiber so special?

How Vicuña Fiber Is Obtained in Peru

Vicuña fiber is obtained in Peru through a highly regulated, ethical, and ancestral process that prioritizes animal welfare and community participation. Unlike alpacas or sheep, vicuñas are not domesticated animals; they live freely in the wild, which means their fiber cannot be harvested through conventional farming methods.

The only authorized way to obtain vicuña fiber is through a traditional practice known as Chaccu, a pre-Hispanic technique that dates back to the Inca Empire. During a Chaccu, entire Andean communities work together to gently herd vicuñas into large circular enclosures using ropes and human chains. Once contained, trained professionals carefully shear the animals and immediately release them back into their natural habitat.

This process is carried out under strict government supervision, following national and international regulations (including CITES). Each vicuña can only be sheared once every two years, ensuring that the animal retains enough fiber to survive extreme highland conditions. On average, a single shearing yields around 200 grams of raw fiber, making vicuña wool exceptionally rare.

After shearing, the fiber undergoes a meticulous cleaning and classification process. Due to its extreme fineness, around 15 microns, only a small percentage of the collected fiber meets the quality standards required for luxury textiles. This rarity, combined with the labor-intensive process, explains why vicuña fiber is considered the most exclusive natural fiber in the world.

Vicuña Fiber and Conservation Efforts in Peru

The production of vicuña fiber in Peru is inseparable from conservation efforts. In fact, vicuña management is often cited as one of the most successful wildlife conservation stories in Latin America.

By the mid-20th century, vicuñas were on the brink of extinction due to illegal hunting and uncontrolled fiber trade. Thanks to coordinated action between the Peruvian government, Andean communities, and international organizations, the species was protected, and sustainable-use models were implemented. Today, Peru is the world’s leading producer of vicuña fiber, while also being the country with the largest vicuña population.

More than 331 Andean community organizations are directly involved in vicuña conservation and fiber commercialization. These communities are legally recognized as custodians of the species and benefit economically from fiber sales, creating a strong incentive to protect the animal rather than exploit it.

Revenue from vicuña fiber helps fund local development, environmental monitoring, and education, reinforcing a circular model of sustainability where conservation and economic opportunity coexist. Each kilogram of legally sourced vicuña fiber sold on the international market represents not only luxury, but also biodiversity protection, cultural continuity, and responsible production.

Because of this model, Peru has become an international reference for the recovery and sustainable management of an endangered species, demonstrating that luxury textiles and ethical practices can go hand in hand.

The most fine fiber in the world

Vicuna’s fiber measure is of 15 diameter micrometers. The fur of this camelid is thick, formed by thin fibers that grow together with the aim to protect the animal from cold, rain and wind.

Since 1994, there have been legal activities of capture and shearing. This is also known as “Chaccu” in Quechua, an ancestral practice that now takes place in authorized communities under the control and supervision of the Estate.

A vicuna can be sheared every two years and every shearing can produce around 200 grams of fiber. A productive life for a vicuna is 12 years, that means 6 shearing’s.

The Andean communities are in charge of their own merchandising. Few kilograms of vicuna’s fiber can reach more than 400 euros in the international market.

The vicuna is an important and relevant species in Peru because it involves 331 Andean organizations for its production and it has made the country an international reference for a successful recuperation and conservation of an endangered species.

Hope you enjoyed this article! Here at Knit-Lab Peru we are committed to offer premium quality products that combine modern technology with ancestral tradition. Contact us if you want to learn more or work with us.