ALPACA NEWS

AEI directors, Mr and Mrs Janie Hicks and Dr and Mrs Ian Davison, have travelled to China last September to explore the opportunities for the establishment of an alpaca industry in China.

"Alpacas are virtually unknown in China, but have become the basis of bouyantindustries in North America, Europe and Australasia, where they are greatly sought after as rare and exotic animals," said Dr Davison, Vice President of AEI.

"They have fleece with the softness and fineness of cashmere, but are uniquely gentle on the environment."

Alpacas caused a sensation when they walked the catwalks at Shanghai Fashion Week in 2006, and Chinese enquiries have been steadily growing for the past two years.