Rzeszow university will use alpacas for rehabilitation of disabled

On June 12, the university officially opened the Zootherapy Centre, although rehabilitation with alpacas have been conducted for a while now. The university has a herd of 35 females and 4 males of these exotic animals for zootherapy and studies of the fleece selection by colour and properties. Animals were brought from Chile in February 2013.

The university spokeswoman Urszula Pasieczna told PAP that alpaca therapy is very popular in western Europe. This form of therapy is especially effective for children with autism, cerebral palsy and emotional and mobility problems.

She added that alpacas do not like to be touched, and their preparation for zootherapy required proper training, good knowledge of animal behaviour and patience. "Alpacas look like live mascots. Contact with them is very enjoyable for children. We have selected a few animals that we will use in zootherapy" - Pasieczna told PAP.

The Centre also offers zootherapy sessions involving a horse, a cat and a dog. The facility is located on the university campus in Kielnarowa.

"Working with people with disabilities with the participation of animals allows to use classical rehabilitation in a lighter form, which is zootherapy. Therapy with animals is becoming a very popular and effective form of psycho-motor rehabilitation complementary to traditional rehabilitation methods used in cerebral palsy, children\'s autism, Down syndrome and children with mental retardation" - emphasised the head of the Zootherapy Centre, Daria Sawaryn.

The center also conducts educational lessons about animals, school camps, mini-zoo, rehabilitation stays, family picnics, riding camps and riding lessons.

Sawaryn added that practical classes are taught by experienced instructors and animal trainers. The Centre also has infrastructure for people with disabilities.

As of the next academic year, the university will also introduce zootherapy specialisation in the physiotherapy course. It will be available for students of other faculties and outsiders. In class, students will acquire the knowledge and practical skills in the work of hippotherapist (horse therapy), felinotherapist (cat therapy), kynotherapist (dog therapy) and alpacotherapist (alpaca therapy).

The university will also conduct research in the Alpaca Research Laboratory. Research will focus on developing appropriate feeding methods for alpacas, which will ensure the best possible development of animals with best fleece parameters.

Alpacas are camelids. They give one of the most precious and most expensive fibres (also known as alpaca), which, unlike sheep wool, does not cause itching. It is also several times warmer and lighter, and hypoallergenic. Breeding alpacas does not produce any pollution to the environment - animal droppings without composting are a great fertilizer for plants.

Alpacas occur in 22 natural colours, each in several shades. Due to the fact that their fleece does not require dye, it is considered organic. The university has alpacas in several colours, including white, champagne (beige with a hint of pink), brown, black, silver, rose-gray (brown with a hint of purple) and chestnut. Alpacas with different colouring can be seen in the university mini-zoo.

Breeding alpacas requires adequate knowledge. Wrong food can cause serious health problems and even death of the animal. The basis of the Alpaca food is hay and grass or alfalfa. In winter they also receive properly prepared grains such as corn. Alpacas do not eat too much, so the basic cost is not high. For comparison: 10 alpacas consume as much grass and hay as one cow. Alpacas do not like to be alone, they are happy in the herd. Some make friends with each other, like to eat and rest together.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, Agnieszka Pipała

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