Lynda's Llamas
11April 2003

After Robert's initial shock, he's quickly taken to his 60th birthday present - the two llamas Wolfgang and Constanza (named, or course) after Mozart and his wife. How will they compare with Lynda's sadly departed goats? Paul Rose of Roseland Llamas gives us a crash course in these unusual animals:

• Llamas were probably first introduced into the U.K in 1858 when according to the Illustrated London News of July of that year, a group of 43 “started from Peru overland to Guaquil, thence to Panama across the Isthmus to Aspinwall, and travelled on foot nearly 4000 miles”. 23 females and some babies survived the journey and, it would seem, found their way into the Royal Collection at Windsor and into various zoos.
• It's believed that no further imports took place in the 20th century until, in the 1980s people began importing new bloodlines to begin farming llamas and breeding them as “field pets”
• Llamas are grazing animals whose main diet of grass can be supplemented with hay. For treats they like fruit such as apples, vegetables such as carrots, fruit and vegetable peel - even banana skins (they’re much too sure-footed to slip on them…! )
• Llamas are extremely hardy and easy to look after, requiring very little of the work associated with other types of field livestock. They get on very well with, and are good company for, horses and other field animals.
  Llamas are pony sized but much lighter in build. They can be trained to wear headcollars and be led on walks. They can even be trained to sit on command! This is called “kushing”.

Archers programme assistant Sonja Cooper introduces a llama to her microphone while recording on location. The fluffy windshield doubles in studio when a character needs to stroke a llama!

• As they are “naturally house-trained” the occasional house visit, or even a drink at the pub, is not out of the question. Although very much larger than dogs they do not have wagging tails to contend with!
• Female llamas have just one baby a year, which they carry for eleven and a half months before it is born. The baby is known as a calf or ‘cria’.
  Llama droppings are called llama beans! This is because… well, because they look rather like coffee beans! They are very good for flower and vegetable beds and can be applied fresh - they do not need to be rotted down like other manure. When dried the beans make good fuel for open air fires.
• Llamas are kind to the environment. They do not have hooves but two-toed feet and are gentle on the land.
• Also, llamas have a split top lip which they use rather like fingers when eating. It means they can be very choosy about what they eat and what they leave behind. This is good for any wild flowers growing in the grass which they usually choose to miss out on…
• Llamas will carry packs on their backs and can be used for trekking - anything from carrying a family picnic on a leisurely walk, to carrying camping equipment on a mountaineering expedition.
• In the last few years trekking centres have set up around the U.K. You can, for example, go out with llamas for a day or perhaps even the weekend along the Dorset Heritage Coastline, in the Forest of Dean, through Snowdonia and along the Pennine Way.
• Llamas have been used as golf caddies, as fisherman’s ghillies and can even be taught to pull a cart or give children rides.
• Their fibre coat is very soft and luxurious; it is strong, light, warm and insulating and makes superb garments. The outer guard hair can be used in the making of rugs, socks, wall-hangings etc.
• Llamas can be used to protect sheep, goats and free-range poultry from foxes and marauding dogs. Although by nature they are very gentle and easy-going, if their charges are attacked they will chase the offending fox or dog away.
• There are now a few thousand llamas being kept by private individuals in the UK, and the number is continually growing, but this is still a very small number compared to the one million horses owned in the country.
  

Previous Backstage Story

<<Back