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Llama History
Llamas, members of the camelid family, are believed to have their origins in the central plains of North America around 40 million years ago.
The dawn of the Ice-Age, saw a southerly migration into the South American Andes of the guanaco and vicuna, which adapted to the inhospitable climate, sporadic moisture, high altitude, vast daily temperature fluctuations and unpredictable food supply of the region.
Domestication of the guanaco and vicuna is thought to have given rise to the llama and alpaca, with the llama originating from the guanaco and the alpaca from the vicuna.
The earliest domesticated animal, llamas were first trained by the Incas in the high Andes Mountains close to Lake Titicaca around 4,000 years ago. The Inca tribesmen used the intelligent highly trainable camelids for hauling and carrying, but llamas were much more than beasts of burden.
The Incas called the llama "silent brother", they recognised the llamas importance as a source of meat, fibre for clothing and blankets, skins for shelter and as a sacrifice to the Inca gods.
The Incas had a high dependence on these animals. Domestication of the llama allowed the additional use as a beast of burden as well as selective breeding for specific traits. The adaptability and efficiency of the llama as a pack animal made it possible to link the diverse altitude area of the mountainous Andes and to cover great distances of the region.
Llamas and alpacas were so important to the Inca culture and economy that they were the property of the government. State herdsmen controlled the breeding and production of llamas and this was closely monitored.
The arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the early 1500's had a huge effect on the llamas and alpacas in the Andes.
The Spanish destroyed almost all of the llamas and alpacas, putting in their place their own domestic animals, mainly sheep. The Incas and their animals were forced to move to higher altitudes over 4000 metres.
Decimated in numbers, these hardy animals adapted to the harsh climate and terrain and developed the ability to live on low protein vegetation where only the strongest survived.
Selectively bred for gentleness, for thousands of years, a well trained llama will eagerly follow adults and children alike, from groups of enthusiastic ramblers to self-proclaimed couch potatoes.
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The Spitting Llama?
Spitting is used by llamas to settle arguments, establish dominance and pecking order, tell males that females are pregnant, discipline crias and express fear or discomfort. Llamas often spit only at other llamas and not people.
The actual contents of the spit can take various forms, namely, the grain spit, the saliva spit and the green stomach content spit. The grain spit occurs when the llama is defending its food. It will spit whatever is in its mouth and usually occurs when its eating grain.
Llama will also just spit by just spraying the saliva in their mouths. This is usually a warning before the green spit appears. The green stomach content spit is the worst and the llama means business when spitting the green stuff. The llama can spit this up to a distance of about 10-15 feet. This spit is very smelly to both people and other llamas.
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The llama's feet
Llamas do not have hooves like horses or cattle. Their feet are designed to enable them to be sure-footed and cause minimal damage to the environment.
Each foot is made up of 2 toes which have a toenail and a pad, the pad covers most of the bottom of the foot and is very sensitive giving the llama better contact with the ground than horses or cattle.
Since the pad is softer than a hoof, llamas cause less damage to the environment. It will take a llama longer to wear a path than a horse or a cow.
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Flood Myth of the Quechua
The world wanted to come to an end. A llama, knowing this, was depressed. When its human owner complained that it wouldn't eat, the llama told him of the imminent flood and suggested they go to Villca Coto mountain. They arrived there to find the peak already filled with all kinds of animals. The flood came as soon as they arrived and lasted five days. Afterwards, the man began to multiply once more.
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