Alpaca of the Month

June 2006

Orrapoora Jack

Orrapoora Jack
Jack’s the one in the back (both photos).

A Tribute to Our Jack (otherwise known as Big John)

Jack was born on agistment, back in 1996, and we brought him here to Goulburn in 1998. He had been wethered very young and grew into a long legged lanky male. He is a BEW out of a grey and by a BEW (what we didn’t know then!). We gave him the job of looking after our weanlings and he became an excellent guard, would take on all 4 dogs at once if they dared to enter HIS domain, and has taught all his charges over the years to dislike and distrust dogs.

A couple of years ago we realised he had finally lost all his hearing so Old Cecil (born 1997) was added to the weanlings’ paddock to help with guard duty. Jack is happy with his life as he doesn’t fit in with the males any more. He is still a very good guard and has overcome his hearing loss well, relying on his keen eyesight (Cecil does the hearing). He has also at times “let us know” when a young female has become “interested” in the boys, and he shows her “what to expect” although of course he can‘t actually “do anything”. He caused us more than a little concern in the early days when he started this unusual behaviour.

Jack can also be a bit on the stroppy side at times and won’t always lead his charges where we want them to go, and they will only go where Jack goes, so he is occasionally yelled at.

He is a treasure here on “Airlie”.

May 2006:	Orrapoora Sol
April 2006:	Cyprus, Ezra, Lazarus and Reuben
March 2006:	Orrapoora Missy
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