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Researchers Race to Witness Vicuña Birth | National Geographic


this vicuna mom-to-be

this vicuna mom-to-be is about to give birth her calf is

is about to give birth her calf is

is about to give birth her calf is slowly emerging into the world and will

slowly emerging into the world and will

slowly emerging into the world and will soon land on the ground of its home in

soon land on the ground of its home in

soon land on the ground of its home in the Argentinian Andes the vicuna is a

the Argentinian Andes the vicuna is a

the Argentinian Andes the vicuna is a cousin of a llama alpaca and camel also

cousin of a llama alpaca and camel also

cousin of a llama alpaca and camel also known as camelids

known as camelids

known as camelids they only occur naturally in Argentina

they only occur naturally in Argentina

they only occur naturally in Argentina Chile Bolivia and Peru the birth takes

Chile Bolivia and Peru the birth takes

Chile Bolivia and Peru the birth takes several minutes at first only the little

several minutes at first only the little

several minutes at first only the little ones head and two legs emerge while most

ones head and two legs emerge while most

ones head and two legs emerge while most vicunas give birth while standing the

vicunas give birth while standing the

vicunas give birth while standing the full birth in this case will happen only

full birth in this case will happen only

full birth in this case will happen only after the mom sets herself down for a

after the mom sets herself down for a

after the mom sets herself down for a rest finally as the camera gets shaky

rest finally as the camera gets shaky

rest finally as the camera gets shaky from the wind you can see the baby

from the wind you can see the baby

from the wind you can see the baby completely born with legs squirming in

completely born with legs squirming in

completely born with legs squirming in the air and it tries to sit up for the

the air and it tries to sit up for the

the air and it tries to sit up for the first time

researchers are trying to establish

researchers are trying to establish survival rates and find out what is

survival rates and find out what is

survival rates and find out what is causing deaths among the young the team

causing deaths among the young the team

causing deaths among the young the team waits for 10 minutes after birth to

waits for 10 minutes after birth to

waits for 10 minutes after birth to allow mother baby imprinting and then

allow mother baby imprinting and then

allow mother baby imprinting and then they only have a very short time to

they only have a very short time to

they only have a very short time to capture these newborn calves before they

capture these newborn calves before they

capture these newborn calves before they can run away in fact within 15 minutes

can run away in fact within 15 minutes

can run away in fact within 15 minutes this little four leg 11 pound Laconia

this little four leg 11 pound Laconia

this little four leg 11 pound Laconia who will be able to outrun the

who will be able to outrun the

who will be able to outrun the researchers to researchers move in on

researchers to researchers move in on

researchers to researchers move in on the mom and baby one to measure weigh

the mom and baby one to measure weigh

the mom and baby one to measure weigh and tag the other to keep the angry

and tag the other to keep the angry

and tag the other to keep the angry mother at bay not often but sometimes

mother at bay not often but sometimes

mother at bay not often but sometimes the moms can be violent the full process

the moms can be violent the full process

the moms can be violent the full process is done quickly

is done quickly

is done quickly the researchers retreat and the mother

the researchers retreat and the mother

the researchers retreat and the mother returns to her young babe the ear tags

returns to her young babe the ear tags

returns to her young babe the ear tags have a transmitter with a mortality

have a transmitter with a mortality

have a transmitter with a mortality sensor so when the animal stops moving

sensor so when the animal stops moving

sensor so when the animal stops moving for two hours it transmits a different

for two hours it transmits a different

for two hours it transmits a different signal researchers recover the bodies

signal researchers recover the bodies

signal researchers recover the bodies and gather data the three years study in

and gather data the three years study in

and gather data the three years study in Argentina’s San Guillermo National Park

Argentina’s San Guillermo National Park

Argentina’s San Guillermo National Park and partially funded by National

and partially funded by National

and partially funded by National Geographic track the juveniles for a

Geographic track the juveniles for a

Geographic track the juveniles for a full year or until they were killed

full year or until they were killed

full year or until they were killed young vicunas are a favorite prey of

young vicunas are a favorite prey of

young vicunas are a favorite prey of Pumas on the researchers hope the

Pumas on the researchers hope the

Pumas on the researchers hope the information gathered in this study will

information gathered in this study will

information gathered in this study will help in the conservation of both animals

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