No alpacas were killed to make these figurines. Sometimes young animals die naturally due to sickness, extreme weather changes, genetics, or an accident. This is a costly loss to the rancher. He minimizes his loss by using the alpaca for food and its pelt. Alpacas are always most valuable when they are alive growing their soft fleece! That’s what all alpaca breeders strive for. Nothing makes an alpaca rancher happier than to see their crias achieve maturity to become successful providers of fiber and future alpacas.