Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

Total/global population estimates

• 1,500,000-2,200,000 (Baldi et al. 2016)
  • Approximately 1,000,000-1,500,000 adults

Regional population estimates

• Peru: 3,000
• Bolivia: 150-200
• Paraguay: 20-100
• Chile: 270,000-299,000
• Argentina: 1,225,000-1,890,000
• Total Guanaco population: 1,498,170-2,192,300

Historical population estimates

• When Europeans arrived in South America, it is estimated that there were 30-50 million guanacos

IUCN

• Least Concern (2016 assessment) (Baldi et al. 2016)

CITES

• Appendix II (UNEP 2019)

Habitat loss and degradation

• Occupy only 40% of original range (Puig 1995; Franklin et al. 1997) Distribution is fragmented into smaller, more isolated populations.

Human activities

• Recreational and subsistence hunting, poaching,
• Mining, oil exploration and extraction,
• Fencing
• Development of infrastructure (habitat loss and barriers to movement)
• Land desertification due to overgrazing by domestic livestock

Climate change

• Droughts, lack of water

• Found in protected areas
• Listed on Appendix II of CITES
  • International trade regulated (animals and products)
    • Fibers: demand due to thermal characteristics, fine-ness, and color
• Laws prohibit hunting and poaching
• Protections in Peru
• Live-shearing and release of wild guanacos is being practiced in Patagonia
  • Aids conservation only if properly managed

IUCN (2009)
Raedeke (1979)