Llama

Lama glama

Lamča, Buba, Bambi a Belo

Our llamas

These llamas were brought to Malkia Park by a private individual.

We have large enclosures with trees, grass, shade….

It is ideal for ungulates to live in a large grassy area with plenty of exercise, constant grazing and contact with mates – they are herd animals, so they need to live in a group, in a herd.

They also like to graze the Safari enclosure, and their previous presence provides new smells to the subsequently released animals. At the same time, we also use their wool in the creation of various toys (so-called enrichments) for our animals, which thus demonstrate natural signs of behavior, as they try to roll in the remains of these toys in order to cover their smell from the prey.

Four forms of llamas can be found in South America. The llama and alpaca are domesticated animals, while the vicuña and guanaco are still relatively wild. The llama is the largest of them all. Large eyes with long eyelashes and long, pointed ears are typical of the llama. Its body is covered with long and thick wool, only on the head, neck and legs it is shorter.

The inhabitants of the South American mountains use the domesticated species to carry loads, produce meat, and thick wool. Llamas easily tolerate low pressure and less oxygen in the thin high-altitude air. The Andean Indians are able to make the most of the llama – the fat was once used to make candles, and the llama dung is dried and used as fuel.

Llamas are strictly territorial animals. They have their day (grazing) and night (resting) territories.

It lives in family groups – harems.

Males are also used to guard flocks of sheep (there must be only one llama in the flock, the rest are sheep).

In case of danger, the llama saves itself by running away, in case of a direct threat it bites, kicks – to the side and tries to drive away a possible rival or enemy by spitting.

They do not have a fixed breeding season; the female ovulates only after mating with the male.

It is the only animal living in the Western Hemisphere that has been bred by man to carry loads.

Llamas will often only have heavy loads loaded on their backs if there are more of them together. They are capable of carrying a load of up to 50 kg per day over a distance of 26 km, even at an altitude of 5,000 metres.

Llama

Lama glama

Lamča, Buba, Bambi a Belo

Our llamas

Date of birth

Lamča: 08. 06. 2008
Buba: 02. 07. 2004
Bambi: 14. 03. 2017
Belo: 22. 06. 2018

Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Camelidae

BODY LENGTH

1.5-2 m from head to tail, tail 22-25 cm

HEIGHT

1.1-1.2 m at shoulder

Weight

120-150 kg

LIFE EXPECTANCY

up to 20 years

LENGTH OF PREGNANCY

11-12 months

NUMBER OF YOUTHS

1 Occurrence

western part of the South America

Food

grass, plants, bushes, and lichens