Among alpacas

Among alpacas

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Lisa Vella-Gatt, 46, came to Portugal from England in 2009 to set up Monte Frio Alpacas, a sustainable project that breeds alpacas for their wool. Alpaca wool has been showcased in luxury fashion house collections on the catwalks of Milan and Paris.

Vella-Gatt’s alpacas produce wool and are also trained to trek with tourists through the rural landscapes of central Portugal.

. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Alpacas are smaller than donkeys with a gentle nature. Their wool is both silky soft and strong with a range of more than 20 natural colours.

Vella-Gatt’s 14 alpacas produce about 50 kilos (110 pounds) of wool annually. The business creates wool products and offers workshops that teach the traditional crafts of wool making, spinning and felting.

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Slideshow

Vella-Gatt walks with her alpacas in rural Portugal.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Vella-Gatt walks with her alpacas in rural Portugal.

Monte Frio Alpacas graze in Benfeita.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Monte Frio Alpacas graze in Benfeita.

Katharina Bartelmann, a volunteer assistant, feeds the animals.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Katharina Bartelmann, a volunteer assistant, feeds the animals.

Alpaca wool can be as soft as cashmere, but stronger.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Alpaca wool can be as soft as cashmere, but stronger.

Vella-Gatt processes the wool of alpacas at her house.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Vella-Gatt processes the wool of alpacas at her house.

Vella-Gatt sorts the wool by hand.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Vella-Gatt sorts the wool by hand.

The sustainable business offers workshops on traditional wool production.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

The sustainable business offers workshops on traditional wool production.

Crafts taught in the workshops include spinning, weaving and felting.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Crafts taught in the workshops include spinning, weaving and felting.

Figurines made with the wool of alpacas are seen at Vella-Gatt’s house.
. Benfeita, Portugal. REUTERS/Rafael Marchante

Figurines made with the wool of alpacas are seen at Vella-Gatt’s house.