Olaf was originally thought to be a llama when he was brought to West Hartford’s Westmoor Park as a rescue in the winter of 2015.

Olaf, a young alpaca, has become a favorite of visitors to West Hartford’s Westmoor Park. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

Staff at West Hartford’s Westmoor Park celebrated a very special birthday for one of the park’s youngest residents last Wednesday.

The odds were stacked against Olaf when he was born last winter, but the young alpaca is now healthy and happy, and celebrated his first birthday with some extra hugs and attention.

Olaf was born on Jan. 13, 2015, in a barn in Meriden that serves as an indoor riding ring. The hours-old cria was discovered frozen to the ground by the farm’s owner. Olaf, who was aptly named for the snowman in the Disney hit movie “Frozen,” was stabilized by a veterinarian in Meriden who happened to be a West Hartford resident, and the cria was brought to Westmoor Park just a few days later, where he would receive top-notch care and have the best chance for survival.

Olaf the alpaca takes a walk with the goats in “his” herd at Westmoor Park. Courtesy photo

The farm owner, veterinarian, and Westmoor Park staff all originally thought Olaf was a llama.

“We had suspicions based on his size. For a llama to be that small, it wouldn’t have survived,” Westmoor Park Assistant Naturalist Christy Page said.

Llamas and alpacas are part of the same family, as are camels, Page said, but there are some significant differences. “As he grew, the shape of his face and his ears, the way his hair was growing” led to the realization that he was actually an alpaca rather than a llama. The farm owner had also mistakenly thought Olaf’s mother was a llama rather than an alpaca, said Page.

Olaf was kept inside for several months after arriving at Westmoor Park, and although he was very fragile at first he grew steadily and has now been given a clean bill of health.

“He was a fighter from the very beginning and he took to the bottle right away,” said Page. Although llama-sized expectations were altered once staff learned Olaf is actually an alpaca, he’s still undersized, Page said. “He probably always will be because of his rough start,” she said.

Full-grown llamas are typically between 200-300 pounds – closer to the high end – while adult alpacas are usually 150 pounds. Page doesn’t know exactly how much Olaf weighs, but said it’s in the 75-100 pound range. Page said that Cleo, one of the resident llamas at Westmoor Park, is twice Olaf’s size.

Westmoor Park staff originally hoped that Olaf would bond with the llamas – especially when they thought he was one – but instead he has formed a herd with several baby goats!

Olaf wasn’t strong enough to socialize with visitors at Westmoor Park’s Farm Day last May, but has since become one of the park’s favorites. He will definitely appear at Farm Day this spring.

Olaf wears a party hat at Ginger the horse’s birthday party. Courtesy photo

“He’s very popular,” said Page. “People come specifically to see him and he always comes right over. The herd of goats does, too.”

Page said that Olaf is super friendly and likes to be hugged. “He thinks he’s a lap-alpaca,” she said, although staff are trying to break him of that habit.

Olaf didn’t have a birthday party on Wednesday, but the staff all wished him a happy day and gave him happy birthday hugs, Page said. He enjoyed a birthday celebration earlier in the fall, when Ginger the horse had a birthday party. “Olaf was the star, and he even wore a party hat,” Page said.

Olaf is Westmoor Park’s first alpaca, so it will be a learning process for all when shearing season begins. “We have never done alpaca fiber here, but we plan to shear him in the spring,” she said.

One of the unique things about alpacas is the sound they make. Compared to a cat’s purr for its melodic tone and mysterious nature, alpacas hum. “Olaf hums, especially if he doesn’t feel he’s getting the attention he deserves,” Page said.

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Olaf was a fighter and took to the bottle right away. Courtesy photo

Olaf in the barnyard at Westmoor Park. Courtesy photo