Creature Feature #428 Llama

The Llama is an entirely domesticated species of Camelid. She is used as a meat and pack animal in South America. She is now farmed over much of the world for her woolly fibre, which is soft and lanolin-free. In the early 1980s, farmers in North America began to use a Llama to guard their sheep. A single Llama - a castrated male or unbred female - is added to the sheep flock, and he becomes protective of them - especially the lambs. The guard Llama keeps watch, warning the flock, and may approach the predator (often a coyote)  and intimidate it - sometimes even attacking it - or lead the flock to safety. Studies have shown a significant decline in stock predation when a guard llama is present.