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Microchips to Save Peru's Alpacas

Posted by simoniker on from the llama-world dept.

lakeesis writes "BBC News has published an article stating: 'Peru has launched a campaign to implant microchips in hundreds of pedigree alpacas to try to stop the best animals being smuggled out of the country. Officials say they know alpacas are being sneaked across Peru's borders'."

6 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Technology for the sake of technology? by metlin · · Score: 5, Insightful


    All it takes for the people smuggling the animals is to take a hand-held scanner and find out the location of the microchip and cut it out.

    If it is easy to implant, it would be easy to remove.

    Hmm, looks like they are just trying to throw technology at a problem hoping it would work.

    Then again, ofcourse, the smugglers maybe quite unaware of this and the more gullible ones may just get caught.

    And oh, first post?

  2. Removal? by LordChaos · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Won't the smugglers just remove the chips, much in the same way that people now remove microchips from pedigree animals stolen from family homes?
    I personally think they will have to do a bit better than this, but full marks for trying :)

  3. Safeguard the genepool? by metlin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Sheesh! The things people do for greed.

    "...safeguard the gene pool of its three million-strong herd."

    You mean, safeguard the genepool to stay within Peru. Heh.

    Peruvian law bans the exportation of alpacas that win pedigree certificates.

    Wow. Safeguard the genepool so that the best stay within my borders. Not to troll, but unless these have been specially bred (say, genetically modified), you are trying to hold onto what nature has bestowed upon you.

    And prevent the best from getting out, so that if there is any disease or epidemic, the best will all die out with not too many of them outside my borders.

    And that is good how?

    1. Re:Safeguard the genepool? by Prof.Phreak · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ...are trying to hold onto what nature has bestowed upon...

      Sorta like some countries like to protect their natural resources from getting out... like oil.

      Shame on them!

      --

      "If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy

  4. Re:Its a conspiracy! by mangu · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Since it's reportedly a growing business, it's natural that a significant part of the market is selling studs to farmers. However, alpaca does have a market that's potentially much better than the emu and ostrich farming mentioned by the links you posted. Alpacas produce a fine wool, much nicer to the touch than sheep wool. They also come in several diferent natural colors.


    The part about poor people having top animals sounds strange. If that's true, then instead of trying to tag the animals they should be trying to develop the market so those poor people could profit from their fine animals.

  5. Too Bad by annielaurie · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They have enough money to acquire implants for their top alpacas, but they don't seem to be able to summon up what's needed to develop a viable textile industry for the benefit of the people who raise and work with the alpacas.

    It's a marvelous wool--warm, lightweight, soft, and non-allergenic. It can be spun and knitted or woven into highly coveted, very expensive textiles. I suspect that if more thought were put into this effort, the owners of the pedigreed alpacas would have more interest in keeping them at home in Peru.

    Anne

    --
    DUCT TAPE: The Election Supervisors' Secret Weapon