An alpaca wearing a 「for sale」 sign around its neck appeared on the streets of Kunming city, Yunnan Province on July 28, attracting crowds of curious onlookers.
Bought from New Zealand two years ago for 100,000 yuan (about $16,110), the alpaca used to be a beloved pet of Mr Fang. The owner said he is attempting to sell it since all of his investments have been trapped in the plunging Chinese stock market.
「I hate to part with the alpaca, if it were not for an urgent need of money…」 said Mr Fang. He and his family love the alpaca, which has stayed with them since it was young.
But drastic fluctuations on the stock market have driven him into a corner. Selling the pet for cash is the last resort he can think of, after taking out a mortgage on the family' s house and car.
Alpacas have been a hit on Chinese social media because of their 『half-cute-half-stupid' look and their Chinese nickname 「Grass Mud Horse」, which rhymes with a frequently used curse word.
Some onlookers on the street considered buying the alpaca, but gave up in the end at the price of it. No news yet on whether it has been sold.