On the Brink of Extinction: Llama Caravans Arriving at the Santa Catalina Fair, Jujuy, Argentina

Abstract

The practice of using llama (Lama glama) caravans has decreased in Jujuy, northwestern Argentina, in recent years. Peasants, in this area known as pastores, llameros, or caravaneros, belong to Andean indigenous communities in Nor Lipez, Bolivia. The llameros, with their caravans, travel essentially to barter llama fiber in exchange for industrial food-products, mainly flour and sugar. The caravan trip to and from Santa Catalina takes an average of 12 days, five days going to and from the fair, and two days camping at the fair itself. These llameros belong to extended families that include young boys and women. Llameros have their own ethnotaxonomy and can recognize each animal of the troop. Today's llama caravans are pre-Hispanic in origin, thereby presenting collective continuance with the past. Yet caravans are disappearing given the ever more ubiquitous presence of vehicles, a trend that is also seen in other regions of the world. This paper presents a systematic study of the factors relating to the decline in the use of caravans in northwestern Argentina based on data collected from 2013 to 2017. Three reasons are offered (two socioeconomic and one environmental) to explain the observed decline: (a) the presence of a growing textile industry in Bolivia, with an increase in the demand for camelid fiber; (b) the improvement in living conditions in Bolivia; and (c) the drought that affected the area, with very little pasture for the animals on their route.

South American Camelids: their values and contributions to people

“…Intra-ethnic exchanges usually involve smaller quantities and a greater diversity of products; the value of the barter is agreed between the two parties and it is not subject to the fixed prices of the external market. Caravans are currently scarce and are in danger of extinction if they have not gone extinct already (Vilá 2018 ). As noted by locals “ … they [llameros] used to come in greater numbers … they would cover all this mountain with llamas … the wool is not worth much, because of this they do not come […] There are no more llamas because people have already changed, vehicles arrive, when vehicles did not arrive before, now one can pay for a truck, it picks them up and they come .” (LW, female).…”

“…An ex llamero pointed out that “ before there was no mobility [meaning 'motor vehicle'] and we all had to walk with llamas (…), once you have mobility, you cannot walk, it gets tiring after a while, that's the problem, people are weaker, now everyone has mobility thanks to Evo [Morales, the President of Bolivia]” (HU participant in the fair that came from Bolivia). Another factor that is bringing about the end of caravans is the little enthusiasm shown by young members of the local communities to continue with the activity (Vilá 2018 ). Some of the components and drivers of llama caravans described are presented in Fig.…”

“…Bibiana Vilá is the author of the rest of the photographs ◂ . Another factor that is bringing about the end of caravans is the little enthusiasm shown by young members of the local communities to continue with the activity (Vilá 2018). Some of the components and drivers of llama caravans described are presented in Fig.…”

Los Viajes de intercambio y las ferias. Relatos y vigencia del trueque en la Puna jujeña (Argentina)

“…Entre los meses de mayo y agosto muchos hombres adultos, ocasionalmente acompañados por adolescentes o niños que oficiaban de aprendices, solían emprender viajes (hacia localidades en otras zonas ecológicas) en busca de los productos necesarios para complementar la economía de sus hogares; estos se han documentado de manera persistente en Jujuy hasta la década del ochenta y en Bolivia hasta la del noventa. Sin embargo, aunque de forma menos frecuente, en Pastos Grandes (puna atacameña en Salta, norte de Argentina) algunas familias "aún incorporan entre sus estrategias de diversificación económica la tradicional práctica de viajar a los valles" (Abeledo, 2014, p. 36), y también entre 2013 y 2016 en Santa Catalina (extremo norte de Jujuy) se registró el arribo de caravanas de llamas provenientes de Colcha K en Nor Lípez, Bolivia (Vilá, 2018). Pero, definitivamente, los viajes ya no son tan frecuentes y generalizados como lo fueron en el pasado.…”

Environmental Education as a Means for Valuing and Conserving Camelids and Pastoralism in the Argentinean Altiplano of Jujuy

“…It is vulnerable to climate change, land tenure regimes, pressures on pastoralists to become sedentary, difficulties in interacting with market-based economies, isolation, and youth emigration from the area (Dong et al 2011;Coppock et al 2017). Ancestral practices, such as llama caravans, are becoming or are already extinct (Vilá 2018(Vilá , 2019.…”