The Llama
When you're in Peru, especially in the highlands, you'll see llamas everywhere. In the Sacred Valley children as young as 4 and 5 can be seen with baby llamas, as it is the custom for Peruvian children to raise the llamas for their wool. Although the llamas are the biggest of the four Peruvian pack animals: the llama, the vicuna, the alpaca, and the guanaco, they are still fluffy and cute animals, often twice the size of their little caregivers.
The llama has played an important role in Peruvian society as far back as the Incas, who used the animal as a food source, and for its soft, warm wool. Similar to the fate of the buffalo and the North American Indians of the Plains, the llamas almost became extinct after the collapse of the Incas. Luckily a few survived the harsh upper regions of the Andes, and today they continue to be a mainstay of Peruvian culture.
Because of their docile temperament, intelligence, and low maintenance llamas make great pets and companions. They are also excellent pack animals, particularly in mountainous regions because of their durability in harsh climates and their low upkeep cost. They usually can carry about 30 percent of their body weight for several miles. Wool is another important use of the animal because the fiber produced is very soft and naturally lanolin free.
Llamas are generally 5 to 6 feet tall and can weigh between 280 and 450 pounds. A newborn, called a cria, can weigh between 20 to 30 pounds. Females reach maturity at 2 years of age while males mature at 3 years. Their life span about 25 years, Llamas can be brown, red, black, white, or a combination of colors. Their "cuteness" factor comes from the fluffy wool that covers their neck, back and sides, while the head, underside and legs are covered in short hair, although its not for looks but to keep out the cold, wind, and snow.
Llamas are very social animals and like to live with other llamas in a herd. They are also territorial because of their history of living in fragile and extreme environments where even the smallest increase in population could disrupt a whole herd. A male llama, for instance, will probably display an unrelenting aggression towards an incoming male, the conflict usually settled by a female. The fighting usually doesn't result in any major injuries aside from a few bites, kicks and ramming into each other.
A Peruvian child holding a baby llama is a common sight in the Peruvian countryside as well as a popular photograph that puts the llama in a special place in the country's cultural identity. From such a young age, children raise the animals up by hand, taking great care in the two-year span until they reach adulthood.
Get the most from your Peru Vacation.
Let the travel professionals at AR Tourism arrange the perfect vacation for you, while saving you money and eliminating the inconvenience of handling overseas arrangements.
AR Tourism Peru - Peru Vacation Travel Agency
