Llama and Alpaca

What is the deal with the Llama and Alpaca, am I living under a stone or have these become very popular of late.

So, Ilona, this one is for you, my girl...

Let's check out the Llama and Alpaca.

What inspired my curiosity for these animals?

This post I must admit was sparked by Ilona, for those of you who are asking who is Ilona, she is my son's girlfriend back in South Africa and she is crazy about Llamas, after learning of her obsession I started to notice the many books, stationery, toys and other items out there that where all of Llamas and Alpacas.

Characteristics of the Llama

Llamas are very clever and can be trained just as easy.

They like to be around people and do need to have some of their own kind around them.

The height of a full-grown, llama is between 1.6 metres to1.8 metres tall all the way to the top of the head. They are about doubler the size of the Alpaca.

Llamas can weigh approximately 127 to 204 kilograms.

A baby llama is called a cria and weighs 9 to 14 kilograms and only one is born per pregnancy and the duration of the pregnancy is about 50 days.

The babies are born without assistance during the day and llama mothers give birth while standing.

Llamas have ears that curve inward and are large also referred to as banana-shaped.

They do not have a dorsal hump and they have narrow feet with separated padded toes.

Llamas have a short soft woolly tail.

The lifespan of a llama is about 15 to 20 years.

The llama can be a very calm and friendly animal but when they feel intimidated or threatened they will make groaning noises.

Spitting is usually a way for the female to keep the herd under control she will not spit normally. Others will spit during fights with other llamas as a way to show who is in charge.

Below are some nice images of Ilona with her visit to see Llamas

Characteristics of the Alpaca

There are two types of Alpaca, the Suri and the Huacaya. The Suri has a much longer fleece, it literally looks like an oversized mop end.

And the Huacaya has a very soft woolly fleece.

They like to be around people and do need to have some of their own kind around them.

The height of a full-grown, alpaca is about 1.5 metres tall all the way to the top of the head.

Alpacas can weigh approximately 45 to 90 kilograms.

Baby Alpacas are called cria and weigh 6 to 8 kilograms only one is born per pregnancy unless on the rare occasion they have twins. 

The babies are born without assistance during the day, in warm good weather.

Alpacas have straight smaller ears.

They do not have a dorsal hump, they have soft padded feet, with two toenails on each foot.

Alpacas have a short soft woolly tail.

The lifespan of an Alpaca is about 20 to 25 years.

They pretty much walk around making very little noise, but if intimidated will make a shrill sound. 

Alpacas have no top front teeth but rather a hard plate on the roof of their mouths.

Their food of choice is pasture grasses and hay.

Spitting is usually a way to keep others from their food as they are a bit possessive when it comes to food. Spitting during fights with other alpacas as a way to show who is in charge.

Their faces are also a bit different with llamas having a longer face, while an alpaca's face looks smushed.

Where do Llamas and Alpacas originate from?

Alpacas are native to South America mostly Peru and Chile.

Llamas are native to North America but over the years have migrated to South America and Asia.

Extended Family

They are both cousins to camels, vicunas and guanacos.

Which is the friendlier, Llama or Alpaca?

Both are generally pretty friendly, and they can make great pets however the Alpaca is more manageable as it is smaller. The Alpaca is easy to care for as it manages in most weather conditions and has great resistance against disease. 

How much would it cost to buy one of these as a pet?

Llamas would set you back anything from A$2000 to A$10500 depending on the llama and Alpacas from A$250 to A$3500, all the factors taken into the pricing are listed below.

Gender

Age

Pregnancy

Stud Males

Buying in pairs

If you are looking to purchase one in Australia I came across a website while doing some pricing research that seems to be very nice, they seem dedicated to having their animals looked after well and offer education on first-time owners. 

Llama and Alpaca Magic: https://www.alpacamagic.com.au/llamas-for-sale/

Contact on: (02) 6230 3311

Do Llamas and Alpacas kick?

They are both pack animals and are generally used for this purpose if they are weighed down too heavy or treated badly just as any other animal they do react, and kicking is one of the ways they show they are not happy.  They may even go as far as laying on the ground and refusing to move. But as I said this is only when they are unhappy, generally they are passive animals. Alpacas are also known to be sensitive on the hind legs and in defence will react by kicking. 

Toys and Books 

I recently went shopping for gifts for my youngest son Logan, and while in-store I came across the below Llama and Alpaca Books and Toys.

You can find them just about anywhere, the below was seen in the Reject store and K-Mart in Sydney. But they are like I said all over the place.

Some even have horns and wings! 

So to sum things up, what have I learnt through this bit of research I did? 

You can have these as pets if you really want to and have space to keep them, and they seem to be trending in the toy and book department.

I'm not sure if it's my cup of tea but I enjoyed learning a bit more about them and hope that I have managed to teach you something.

As always thank you so much for the support I really appreciate it.

Remember - You Not Alone

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