WHITTIER — Two male alpacas named Jaq and Yeehaw, valued at about $1,500 each, have been donated to the Parnell Park Zoo, 15330 Lambert Road, compliments of Mike and Sharon Turner, owners of Alpaca Breeding and Sales.
Fran Shields, director of parks, recreation and community services, said city staff contacted the couple to ask about purchasing the animals, and were informed that the Turners would donate them to the zoo provided they were gelded by a veterinarian. That cost is about $150 per animal, Shields said.
In addition, the Whittier Community Foundation donated $5,000 for the care and feeding of the animals.
Jaq is 18 months old and is white. Yeehaw is two and one-half years old and is brown. They stand about 36 inches tall and weigh less than 200 pounds. Alpacas are in the camel family and resemble small llamas and long-necked camels. They are considered gentle and easy to handle, Shields said.
Jaq and Yeehaw join two miniature horses donated by the foundation and Whittier Host Lions Club; along with a number of goats, a pot belly pig, chickens, roosters, tortoises, rabbits and various birds, Shields said.
All are within the zoo with permits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she added.
In other action Sept. 10, the council:
• Formally accepted, after the required public hearing, $25,731 from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. The federal funds, allocated on a formula of population and crime statistics, will be used to purchase computer equipment for the Police Department, Police Chief Jeff Piper said.
• Accepted a grant of $82,409 from the Whittier Library Foundation, the funds to be used for the library's Home Center, the Whittier Reads program, after hours programs and other special offerings, said Paymaneh Maghsoudi, director of library services.
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