If you were the oldest member of your species, you might be a little grumpy, too.
So it’s understandable that Hawthornden Wainui the alpaca, who’s been named by the Guinness World Records as the oldest living alpaca in captivity, has the personality of a “grumpy old man.”
Wainui set the record at 27 years and 185 days old.
“Alpacas usually live 15-20 years so Wainui is a very, very, very old man,” says alpaca mom Vicki Cordier.
Wainui was adopted by Cordier in 2002, four years after being born in 1998, and has lived with her since on her farm in New Zealand.
“I believe the secret to his longevity is the comfort in which he lives,” Cordier says. “He has access to the shelter all day and the first little bit of rain, he’ll be inside sitting it out until it’s dry again.”
She adds, “He’s one very special alpaca.”