K-State's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital has acquired alpacas for students to work with after more than 20 years of work to implement a camelid program.
Rose Ann Knoblock, with her husband, Steve, worked since 1984 to get a program with alpacas implemented on campus. Knoblock said they wanted to bring alpacas on campus to enable students to learn more and as a way of giving back to the community.
"This program was how we wanted to give back to K?State and the alpaca community," she said.
Knoblock said bringing this program to campus is positive for the alpaca community because it creates more awareness of the species.
She said she thinks the program will benefit K?State because it will boost the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital.
Alpacas are one of four South American camelid species, said Dr. David Anderson, professor and Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital section head of agricultural practice. The other species include the llama, vicuna and guanaco, which are distant relatives of the camel.
All camels are thought to have originated in the western United States, and then the camel migrated to Asia and Africa and the South American Camelids migrated to South and Central America, Anderson said.
Though the alpacas are open for all K-State veterinary medicine students to work with, seniors will have more opportunities to work in the alpaca program.
"The purpose of the program is to have alpacas in the vet school in order to give students experience," Anderson said. "This program will give them an opportunity to see and work with the animals in order to evaluate their behavior."
Anderson said it is important to work with alpacas because they are a common species, and he also wants students to have experience with the alpacas.
"The goal of the program is to increase awareness and comfort level for students to work with different species in the field," Anderson said.
Anderson said the program is an expansion of K?State's land-grant mission to support all aspects of animal agriculture in the state. He also said the program aids K-State in providing outreach, service, research and education.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Gary Kaufman
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:06 AM CST
It is exciting to see Dr. Anderson and the folks at K-State continuing to set the standards for excellence in camelid education for veterinary students. (Continued…)
Sergio Castro
posted 1/29/08 @ 11:55 AM CST
Keep up the Good Work, Rewards will follow!
Dad and Mom!
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