A Central West alpaca breeder is fearing the worst after her infant cria vanished from her paddock.
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The two-week-old baby alpaca had been with its mother and the rest of the herd until Friday morning when Kylie Streatfeild discovered the cria was missing.
As the owner and operator of Kyona Alpacas in Forest Reefs since 2005, Ms Streatfeild said the circumstances were "odd", adding that it was highly unlikely the cria could have been taken by a predator.
"Alpacas hate foxes. If it was a fox they would have chased it away, they would have tried to get it and there would be evidence... A fox couldn't just pick up a baby and try to take it away without the other members of the herd trying to protect it," she explained.
Ms Streatfeild added that neither her nor any of her neighbours had ever experienced eagles making off with young alpacas.
While there was no way to be "100 per cent sure" the cria had been stolen, it was a strong possibility, considering both the value of the animals and how docile the mother was.
"Mum was a first-time mum... It would have been easy to go in there and pick her up and walk off," she said.
Since the cria vanished, the mother alpaca has been "frantically looking for her" but the baby was "nowhere to be found".
Following the cria's disappearance, Ms Streatfeild made an urgent plea for help on social media - adding that "no questions would be asked, we just want her returned".
"If you know anything, or know of someone who is trying to bottle feed a female cria please let me or Bathurst Police know," her post read.
"She has a white spot above her left eye and also below her mouth. I would appreciate everyone's help to find our little girl."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bathurst Police on 6332 8699.
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