Llamas: interesting facts about the indigenous people of the Andes 🦙

For thousands of years, people have coexisted with llamas in the Andes. Not only are these amiable, woolly creatures adorable, but they have been integral to the Andean people’s history and culture.

Llamas were pack animals long before there were cars or railroads in the area, and they were well-known for their serene disposition. They were indispensable to early Andean societies because of their capacity to carry large loads over challenging mountain terrain.

However, llamas are more than just useful animals. For the indigenous tribes who have taken care of them for many years, they have also come to represent pride. Llamas are genuinely unique Andean creatures, distinguished by both their soft wool and their kind dispositions.

Guanaco – the ancestor of the llama

There are four very similar types of camels found in South America: vicuña, llama, alpaca, and guanaco. While the second pair consists of wild animals, the first two species are domesticated animals. Alpacas and llamas are descended from guanacos, which are still free-ranging in South America’s mountains. The Andean people of Peru captured and tamed guanacos for their meat and milk.

The llama, an animal larger and more resilient than its ancestor that could be used to transport goods along steep mountain roads at high altitudes, eventually appeared as a result of careful selective breeding.

Llamas have been used as pack animals for centuries

About 5,000 years ago, the native Andean people domesticated the llama to carry cargo over difficult terrain. The animals could travel 25–30 km each day while carrying loads up to 35 kg.

Llamas contributed to the expansion of the Inca Empire and were crucial to the advancement of South American civilization. The animals brought construction materials to the fabled city of Machu Picchu, and the Incas were able to cultivate crops on unfavorable soils by using their manure. Hundreds of llamas still travel in pack caravans throughout Peru even now.

Sam Peasley/Stephanie Dutchen photo

Has the expression "stubborn as a mule" ever occurred to you? This also holds true for llamas. It’s best not to push your patience if they lie down on the ground and won’t move. Llamas can exhibit very aggressive behavior when they are angry. Animals that are agitated will bite, kick, hiss, and spit.

Spitting is part of their vocabulary

One way lamas show their superiority or contempt is through spitting, as they compete with one another for status and control within the herd. Llamas use their spit to express rejection to unwanted suitors during mating season and as a form of self-defense during a fight with a predator, in addition to establishing hierarchy within their herd. If subordinates do not tidy up around the feeding trough, dominants will spit.

Saliva from llamas can occasionally be green because of partially digested food. They have a three-meter spitting distance. However, rest assured that llamas seldom spit on humans. However, as llamas typically give several warnings before spitting, including lifting their chin, pinching their ears, hissing, and spitting to the side, you will have time to get ready.

Fearless opponent

It turns out that when faced with predators, llamas can be extraordinarily courageous, fearless, and bold. But a few assailants or a bigger animal, like a wolf or mountain lion, causes the lane to become alert and sound the general alarm. Ranchers occasionally share tales of violent fights that break out at night and of wolves, coyotes, and even baby bears that are discovered with their trampled corpses in the llama pen early in the morning. Incredible bravery!

Good guard animals are llamas. They are frequently employed by farmers to protect herds of small animals like alpacas, sheep, and goats. These protectors are typically amiable with their charges and are constantly on guard. They occasionally even "adopt" smaller animals into their own herd.

Native Americans have relied on llamas, which are native to the Andes, for centuries as an integral part of their daily lives. These amiable, gregarious animals are employed for companionship, wool, and even transportation. They have evolved special adaptations to suit their environment, such as the capacity to live with little water, and they flourish in severe mountainous conditions. Additionally, llamas are cultural symbols that are frequently used in celebrations and customs.

Llamas are often confused with alpacas

Alpacas and llamas are related closely; they belong to the same family as camels. Though a closer examination reveals several differences, they are frequently confused. The size difference is the most noticeable. While the latter grows to 0.9 meters and weighs less than 90 kg, the former stands approximately 1.3 meters at the shoulder and can weigh up to 200 kg. Alpacas have short, pear-shaped ears, while llamas have long, inwardly curved ears similar to those of a banana. Alpacas have short, rounded muzzles, whereas llamas have long muzzles. While llamas have straight backs, alpacas have slightly arched backs.

Comparatively speaking, alpacas prefer to stick close to their herd, whereas llamas are more independent. Those who have worked with both species have observed that llamas act more like dogs and alpacas more like cats.

Llamas are adapted to high-altitude life

The Andes, which cross the South American nations of Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia, are home to llamas that flourish in their chilly, high-altitude climate.

Stanley Chen Xi’s photo via Getty Images

They inhabit places where the air is extremely thin, up to 4,000 meters above sea level. Because of this, their blood has a high concentration of oval-shaped red blood cells, which aid in the body’s ability to absorb more oxygen. Llamas also have enormous hearts and enhanced lung capacity.

Strong and nimble climbers, llamas rely on their long necks for stability. Their soft-padded, cloven feet are made to withstand rough terrain. Llamas have exceptional traction on rocky terrain thanks to their two distinct, long toes, each of which has a callused pad at the end.

Llamas see very well, thanks to their large eyes. The animals in the mountains have unique sun visors "built into" their eyes to protect them from glare and snow blindness because of the bright sky and frequent snowfall. They resemble a frilly curtain covering the eyeball. When necessary, they shut like Venetian blinds.

Llamas are non-ruminants

They chew and regurgitate their food after it has fermented in their stomach. However, because they have three chambers in their stomach rather than four, they are not regarded as ruminants. Their stomach enables them to break down extremely tough vegetation and maximize the nutritional value of their food. Llamas’ well-designed digestive systems enable them to extract roughly 20% more nutrients from the same food items than does a sheep, despite having one fewer chamber than a sheep.

Llama wool is very strong

The silky wool of alpacas is softer and more opulent than cashmere. The fibers that make up alpaca wool are softer and stronger. It is woven into blankets, coats, and purses. Shearing alpaca wool once a year is the same processing method used for sheep wool. A lone llama can yield about 2 kg of very warm, light wool.

Llamas are herd animals

Despite their ostentatious independence, they are lonely and live in large social groups. To try to feel less alone, lonely llamas will form bonds with other animals. A harem of females is gathered by dominant males, who then protect them from outsiders.

Males have fighting teeth

At age two, young male llamas grow six new teeth designed for fighting. These “fighting teeth”, four on the top and two on the bottom jaw, are curved and point backwards. They are razor sharp. Males will use them to fight each other, cutting off ears, legs and even genitals! That"s why most males have their fighting teeth removed on farms as soon as they grow up.

Llamas are caring mothers

An 11-month pregnancy lasts in females. The other females in the herd congregate around the doula, offering consolation and keeping an eye out for any threats. Usually, llamas give birth while standing. They gradually lower themselves to the ground in order to stimulate the baby (cria).

Usually, llamas give birth to one child. The cria can stand and walk within 40 minutes of birth, thanks to its extraordinarily long legs. Since the llama’s tongue isn’t very long, unlike most mammals, it doesn’t lick the newborn. The infants are weaned at eight months or so.

Llamas don"t destroy pasture

Llamas require less land and food than many other farm animals. Depending on the quality of the pasture, half a hectare of land may be enough to keep four llamas. By comparison, cows need about a hectare each.

Llamas mow the grass rather than uprooting it, in contrast to other animals that can ruin pastures while grazing. They tread more cautiously across the pasture, making no indentations or grooves with their feet.

Llamas are amazing animals with a deep cultural heritage and strong links to the native Andean people. For centuries, they have been devoted allies, toting heavy loads and supplying priceless resources like wool and meat.

These clever creatures are more than just work animals because of their kind disposition. In Andean culture, llamas are revered and serve as symbols of wealth and important roles in customary rituals.

Knowing llamas and the Andean people provides insight into the ways in which animal and human relationships influence lives and customs in distinct settings.

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