After a ban that has lasted for 42 years, the Bolivian government has allowed exports of vicuña—a relative of the llama and alpaca—fibre to be resumed.

The government imposed restrictions and banned commercial exports of the fibre in 1965 when only 5,000 of the species remained and it was considered an endangered species.  However, as a result of a national vicuña handling project, set up eight years ago, the number of vicuña has now increased to 60,000.

Exports to Europe have now resumed and, with an export target of 3,000kg of raw fibre a year, it is hoped to bring a welcome boost to the South American country’s economy.