Commonly known as "grass mud horse," alpacas have such goofy expressions that they’re simply adorable and super cute. In fact, alpacas aren’t only found in Taichung—three years ago, the Papaya Creek Farm in Hualien also introduced them, though the farm wasn’t open to the public, allowing only guests to view and feed them. Huang Wen-ren, the farm owner who suffers from a rare disease, laughed and said that looking at the alpacas’ silly faces puts him in a great mood, as they have a healing effect on people.
Following Provincial Highway 9 to the 213k mark and turning under Papaya Creek Bridge, after looping around the farmland a few times, you’ll find the legendary alpaca farm. The hospitable owner, Huang Wen-ren, warmly welcomes guests, personally feeding the alpacas, introducing the ecological pond, and giving tours of the bird-watching garden. Despite his mobility challenges, he sometimes even takes visitors on tours around Hualien.
Because he fell in love with the natural beauty of Hualien, Huang Wen-ren and his wife moved here from Taipei to open a homestay. But the introduction of alpacas was actually a beautiful mistake. Huang Wen-ren’s sister-in-law is from New Zealand, and she was asked to import alpacas, but the original plan fell through. As he was about to open the homestay, he took over the project. Initially, the alpacas were relatively unknown until mainland netizens jokingly dubbed them the “divine beast grass mud horse” using a vulgar pun, which suddenly made them wildly popular. Every holiday, the farm is crowded with visitors eager to catch a glimpse of these so-called divine beasts.
■ High-Maintenance and Heat-Sensitive – They Even Use Fans
The divine beasts really live better than humans do. The farm has four grazing areas where they can eat to their heart’s content, and their barns are equipped with dedicated fans. Huang Wen-ren explained that alpacas are actually quite high-maintenance. Due to Taiwan’s hot climate, in the summer, not only do the alpacas need to be sheared, but they also need to be sprinkled with water to keep cool. They can’t be exposed to the midday heat or receive visitors, making them quite delicate. Currently, there are seven alpacas on the farm, and a new batch of babies is expected in June.
■ Alpacas Love Cleanliness – They Spit When Angry
You might think alpacas would smell bad, but they actually have only a slight odor. Huang Wen-ren laughed and said, “Since alpacas are part of the camel family, they don’t have the strong sheepy smell. Also, they’re very clean animals—all the alpacas use the same spot to relieve themselves. They won’t eat the grass near their bathroom, so they never get dirty.”
But don’t let their cute looks fool you—they have quite the personality. When upset, they spit at people, fight over food, and even spit to drive other alpacas away. Female alpacas will even spit at male suitors if they reject their advances. They’re incredibly spirited.
Huang Wen-ren also reminds visitors not to “pat them on the backside,” as alpacas, like horses, can kick backward. As long as you don’t provoke them, alpacas are truly adorable.
Alpaca Fact Sheet
Alpacas Are Camels, Not Sheep
Alpacas are highly social animals. They look a bit like long-necked sheep, but their wool is even more valuable than sheep’s wool and is known as “soft gold.” However, alpacas are not sheep—they are camels. They are mostly found in the highlands of Peru and Chile in South America, and there are also large numbers raised in New Zealand. Although alpacas have a fairly average body proportion, adult alpacas, including their necks and legs, can be about as tall as a person, and they have a strong bite for eating leaves.