THE anxious owner of two young alpacas has spoken of the heartbreak of losing them to callous thieves. Edwina Spicer has told The Herald how the six-month-old old pair were taken from her home at Blackdown Farm, Tunworth, near Alton, overnight on Wednesday/Thursday, January 10/11. "They just vanished. It was like your worst nightmare," said Mrs Spicer, who is fearful for the well-being of the recently weaned youngsters. A member of the British Alpaca Society, Edwina Spicer said she and her husband took up alpaca keeping 18 months ago as a form of diversification to keep their heads above water in a rocky agricultural economy. The couple had been breeding sheep since 1976 and needed to find something that would integrate with the sheep and complement their existing skills. Like llamas, alpacas are very protective of their young and do a good job of caring for orphaned lambs. Furthermore, according to Mrs Spicer, since the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001, the UK alpaca industry has been growing like Topsy. "Alpacas are such gorgeous animals to keep. They are lovely to look at and give so much pleasure to everyone around," said Mrs Spicer. Alpacas are also a highly sought-after source of fine, non-allergenic fibre which is hand- spun and made into expensive, fashionable knitwear. Until losing the two youngsters, the Spicers had built up a flock of six alpacas. They started by purchasing two pregnant females which produced their young in June last year. The result was two very distinctive animals - Arab, (pictured right) the male, is a pink/grey colour with black rings around the eyes. Amber, (pictured left) the female, is a pretty ginger/tan. So attractive are the pair that the Spicers were planning to show them this season. And because of the colour of their coats, the fibre they produce would require no dyeing during the manufacturing process. Because the male would have to be kept with another male, and because alpacas are herd animals and do not like living alone, the Spicers had recently bought another mum with male calf at foot, as a companion for Arab. Now they are back to square one. Edwina Spicer believes Amber and Arab must have been stolen to order and that the theft had been pre-planned. It was certainly well executed. Despite stringent security on the farm, the youngsters were taken on a rough and windy night and at a time when the two had just been weaned, so they were independent of their mothers, but still small enough (the size of a large dog or calf) to carry and lift into the back of a Land Rover or Transit van. "We didn't hear a thing," said Mrs Spicer, who is deeply concerned for the well-being of the young animals. Alpacas, she explained, are particularly prone to stress and need regular veterinary attention. Being native to South America, they cannot tolerate sugar and need a good, protein diet with a special vitamin balance. Having been reared from birth, the alpacas have become an integral part of the family and their loss is being mourned, not just by their mothers, but by the Spicers themselves. While they are valuable, it is rare for Alpacas to be stolen. Furthermore, because this pair are so distinctive in colour and markings, the Spicers are hoping that someone may recognise them if they see them out in a paddock or hear of someone acquiring a pair. "If they are still in the area it could be that riders out hacking or walkers might notice them and report back" said Mrs Spicer. Failing that, there is hope that the whereabouts of the alpacas may be discovered through the veterinary profession or via specialist shearers. As members of the National Farmers' Union, the Countryside Alliance and Farm Watch, the Spicers are hoping that word will spread and that the two alpacas will soon be found. A reward has been offered for information leading to the safe return of the animals. • Anyone with information about the missing alpacas should contact Basingstoke rural beat officer, Pc Andy Reid on 0845 045 4545 or via Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
