Llamas and Alpacas: The Only "Crutch" Juvenal Needs Now

Juvenal Ichuta Suricallo owns a small parcel of land near Chiligua in the Peruvian Andes. The thirsty ground here is a patchwork quilt of dust and native grasses, some suitable forage for his animals, some not. High winds and severe soil erosion combine to make survival in this fragile environment even harder.

But because Heifer friends have reached out with gifts of native animals and training in their care, Juvenal is succeeding where so many have failed - all while walking on crutches!

Juvenal received the gifts of alpacas and llamas through Heifer. These animals are well-suited to the steep, rocky land of the Andes, and Juvenal uses their manure to help fertilize his crops.

"I prefer to work with alpacas and llamas," he says, "because they'll eat anything! They can climb to the top of the steep, rocky hillside to graze and return safely. A cow," he added, "would fall down."

Juvenal is now saving money from the sale of alpaca and llama wool for an operation that can help him walk without crutches.