Chimborazo Reserve. Late afternoon. The cloud sea building below.
We stopped because she was alone. No herd visible, no movement in any direction. Vicuñas usually move in tight family bands of five to fifteen. A solo female on the open páramo is unusual.
She didn’t run. She looked. She held her ground for what felt like a long time but was probably forty seconds. Long enough to get the camera up, breathe out, take three frames, lower the camera.
