Alpacas Descend Swiss Mountains for Annual Winter Migration
Approximately 70 alpacas participated in the traditional 'alpabzug' as they were herded down to their winter pastures.
Around 70 alpacas recently completed their annual journey down the Swiss mountains to their winter home. The animals were photographed trekking together through the Kiental valley in the Bernese Oberland during a sunrise on Tuesday.
The procession is part of the traditional Swiss 'alpabzug,' a custom that marks the return of livestock from high mountain pastures to farms located in the valleys.
The alpacas, which belong to the Arnold and Toni Luginbuehl family and Uli Lippl, were guided down the mountain road by shepherds.
Upon reaching the valley floor, the animals were loaded onto a livestock truck to continue their journey to a farm in Aeschi, near Spiez. This farm will serve as their home for the winter after spending the summer grazing in the mountains.
