Isabella the Alpaca wanted all the attention yesterday, cuddling up to pre-schoolers and humming over speeches at the launch of the annual Alpaca Expo at Montessori pre-school.
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Three-year-old Lucia Griffith didn't mind, though. She eagerly hugged the fuzzy, long-necked creature that she's learnt about all week.
She said they would make a good pet. ''I really like their ears, they're triangle.''
Classmate Martin Prosser was also eager to have a turn with Isabella.
''I liked their fleece because it was so soft!'' the five-year-old said.
Isabella is a huacaya (pronounced wah-kay-ya) alpaca and while they are docile, affectionate creatures, the Peruvian animals aren't a pet for everyone.
TV personality and vet Michael Archinal said they should be bought in pairs to avoid loneliness and need plenty of space to roam.
''They don't like to live in an urban environment. You're far better off if you've got a few acres and are on the fringe of the cities.''
Australia now has the second largest population of these creatures, with 125,000 registered, second only to the population in their native South America. Two hundred will be on display at the expo held over May 19-20 at EPIC.
Expo organiser and alpaca farmer Greg Crease said: ''The idea here is to get as many people from southern NSW, Sydney, right the way through to the border and the coast, to come and have a look at alpacas, learn what alpacas can produce, how to care for them, how easy they are to care for, and how environmentally friendly they are.''
Alpacas are used for fleece production, as guards against foxes, and increasingly as a source of meat and do less damage to the land due to their soft, padded feet.
This year the expo is aiming to draw in more families and attendees from outside the alpaca industry, with colouring competitions, information sessions, felting demonstrations as well as plenty of alpaca products such as jumpers, gloves and other homewares available for purchase.
While you may not get to see an alpaca being shorn, this year will feature the inaugural breeding-stock auction, as the industry is becoming more commercial. ''For the very first time, there are 50 of some of the very best alpacas from the district being offered for sale by auction,'' Mr Crease said.
May 12-May 20 is National Alpaca Week in Australia.
