Species Use Database

Vicuna, Huari
Vicugna vicugna

Used for Materials and construction and Specifically, wool fibre. in Peru

A. Species

Scientific name: Vicugna vicugna

Common name(s): Vicuna, Huari

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: Least Concern


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Peru

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: National Level

Name/Details of location: Peru


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 1994

End Year: 2006


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Collecting or harvesting parts or products from wild animals (e.g., eggs, wild honey, vicuna fibre)

Lethal or non-lethal: Non-Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: Only parts or products of the organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Materials and construction and Specifically, wool fibre.

Motivation of use: Income generation from trade (individual/household/community)

Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Numbers of vicuna are increasing, poaching seems to be decreasing, protective measures and policing are improving.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The wool fibre product is clearly very valuable (although this study does not elaborate revenues), trade supports many (unspecified) people, and the population is increasing.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study.

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: In-1994, the Peruvian vicuña population was downlisted from Appendix I to Appendix II of the CITES Convention. Since then, the use of the Peruvian vicuña population has directly benefited more than 700 rural communities of the high Andes, protecting the species from a resurgence of poaching. Furthermore, the management of vicuñas in semi-captivity was introduced in 1996. Legal trade of fiber in Peru represents an annual production of around 5,000 kg, 20% of which used in Peru, while the rest is directly exported by the regional groups of beneficiary communities under the supervision of the State through the CITES Authority.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species

— Manage the specific concepts, definitions, work schemes and policies that correspond to the vicuña as a WILD animal, eradicating the use of livestock farming synonyms. — Not include the vicuña in programs, institutions, projects, laws or policies that refer to the domestic species alpaca and/or llama or in the definitions or concepts that refer to South American camelids in general.


Record source

Information about the record source: grey_lit

Date of publication/issue/production: 2008-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

CONSERVATION AND CURRENT USE OF THE VICUÑA (VICUGNA VICUGNA MENSALIS) IN PERU (2008).
By Domingo Hoces Roque.
NDF WORKSHOP CASE STUDIES
WG 5 – Mammals
CASE STUDY 8

Date of record entry: 2023-09-27