Locals in the Peruvian state of Ayacucho recently held their yearly Vicuna Shearing Festival, where they round up vicunas, Peru’s national animal (a smaller relative of the llama), which is prized for its wool.
The ceremony, known as a “Chaccu,” is led by a man dressed as a traditional Incan king and includes a traditional dance that gently rounds up the vicunas into a group where their wool can be collected, after which they are set free.
Severely endangered only a few decades ago, the vicuna have bounced back through conservation efforts and an establishment of a national reserve for the animal.
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Additional reporting by The Associated Press