General News
29 May, 2026
Alpacas not just cute animals
AN East Russell farmstay has won the hearts of animal lovers in the area and further afield after posting news of a newborn alpaca at its property.
“It’s a boy,” Babinda Rainforest Farm announced, with several suitable ‘cute’ pictures to accompany the post.
“Introducing the farm’s newest resident. This cria (the correct name for a baby alpaca), born three weeks prematurely on Thursday (14 May), is growing in strength every day.”
Located on Kruckow Road, the farm is owned by Michelle and Norm Harris, who have about 15 of the South American-origin animals in their care.
Ms Harris says the alpacas – or “paddock decorations” as she humorously calls them – are popular among visiting families at the registered farmstay.
“We have caravans, fully self-contained caravans and motorhomes come in and can stay as well,” she told The Observer.
“It’s good for them to see the alpacas. It’s just an extra draw- card.”
Lately though, wet season rain and lingering weather has kept visitor numbers down.
“But just come and see the alpacas, staying at the farm is not a prerequisite – although bookings are essential,” Ms Harris said.
“We do offer people to come as a family group, not big groups, and can come and visit us at a cost, of course,” Ms Harris said.
“But yeah, it’s just an hour session where they can meet and greet the alpacas, feed them some carrots and we tell them all about the about them and it’s a bit of a learning process for everyone,” she said.
Before meeting the alpacas – there is often something on visitors’ minds about the animals’ habits.
“Probably the first question is, the most common question is: ‘Do they spit?’,” Ms Harris said.
“And I always say that it’s llamas that spit. So there’s difference between llamas and alpacas. They are cousins, but there’s quite a big, big difference.
“Llamas will look at you and just spit, just for the fun of it, but alpacas generally don’t, so they spit at each other and it’s generally over food.”
While the pictures of newborn alpacas naturally spark warm and cuddly reactions and frequently get people to consider owning one – the reality is very different.
“I think you know that they’re just something exotic that people haven’t, most people haven’t seen up close, personal, yeah, and then you have to learn that they’re not pets, so they’re livestock and that’s the way we treat them,” Ms Harri said.
“You can’t make an alpaca into a pet but a couple of our girls – you are able to have a pat, but they’re not the cute and cuddly things that people see on the internet,” she said
“Little boy alpacas, depending on their temperament and a lot of other different things, whether they will become a stud male and maybe sold on or whether they’re just sold on as a lawn mower- type quality.
“So they are in fair demand as livestock down south. Up here, there’s very little known about them. And all people think is, ‘Oh, they’re cute and cuddly and I want one, yeah’?
“Well, you can’t have one alpaca on its own because it will die. They have a very strong herd instinct, yes. They must go in pairs or in threes.”
Alpaca wool is sought after in some places in Australia and males are often sold on to other farms for breeding.
But for now, the Harrises are preparing for three or four more alpaca births, expected very soon.
“And people ask me, what size are they (newborns)? Well, I always say it’s about the size of a blue heeler with long legs.”
Read More: Cassowary Coast