The History of Llamas

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The History of Llamas

• Instructor Kimberly Stoudt

Blended e-Learning July August 2005
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Agenda

• 1.Llama migration to South America.
• 2.Identifiaction of camelid species.
• 3.Incan and Llama history.
• 4.Importation of Llamas into North America.
• 5.Influence of breeding programs on the physical
  presentation of Llamas.
• 6. History of Llamas group activity

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• Domesticated longer than practically any other
  animal in the world
• The last thirty years have seen the rediscovery
  of the Llama in its native South America and its
  initial discovery in North America.

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• The llama is native to the high altitudes in the
  Andes of South America.

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• The llama is one of the four species known as
  New World camelids. The other species are the
• alpaca guanaco
• vicuna
• All four species are thought to have originated
  from a common North American ancestor, the
  African and Asian camels.

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Alpaca
Guanco
Llama
Vicuna
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• Migration into the South American Andes formed
  the ancestry of the guanaco and vicuna.
• The domestication of these two species is
  thought to have given rise to the llama and
  alpaca, with the llama originating from the
  guanaco and the alpaca from the vicuna.

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• Questions
• Name the four camelid species.
• Compare the physical differences of
• the four species.

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• The domestication of the llama and alpaca marked
  the of a high dependence on these animals by the
  Inca culture of the Andes.

Inca and Llama History
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• Domestication allowed the Llamas additional use
  as a beast of burden as well as a base for
  selective breeding programs.

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• The reign of the llama and alpaca in the Andean
  region ended abruptly in the early 1500s with the
  Spanish conquest of that region of South America.

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• The llama and alpaca became animals of the poor
  and formed the base of a subsistence culture for
  the natives of the high puna.
• The llama continued its obscure existence until
  about 30 years ago.

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• The llama is a relative newcomer in North
  America.
• After the presumed migration of the original
  camelid to Asia and South America, there were no
  camelids in North America until the importation
  of llamas as zoo exhibits in the late 1800s.

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• One of the more significant importations was
  made in the early 1900s by William Randolph
  Hearst to populate his San Simeon estate.
• Reported to have numbered twelve animals,
  Hearst's importation is thought to have been the
  largest to that date.
• Additional information about the Hearst herd
• Llamas for Love and Money History of Llamas and
  Alpacas in N America
• http//www.llamas-information.com/llamas-love-and
  -money/01-2-history-llamas-alpacas.htm

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• These early imports formed the base of the
  United States llama herd, which, until the early
  1970s, resided in private exotic collections and
  zoos.
• A few private breeders and zoos recognized the
  unique qualities of the llama and began
  specialized breeding programs.

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• These herds increased the visibility and
  improved the presentation of the llamas.
• This lead to other people becoming
  interested in raising them as alternative
  livestock for pet/companion animals and pack
  animals.

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• Following decades of importation closure, the
  restrictions were lifted and South American
  llamas again entered the U.S.
• Cost of quarantines and transportation limited
  those numbers to several thousand.

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• Those animals began the base population, which
  represents the present U.S. Llama herd, now
  numbering in excess of 100,000 animals.

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Group Activity

• Using the linked sites they we reviewed Inca
  and Llama History, and Presentation, compose a
  paragraph to answer the following questions.
• 1.Name the Llamas five native countries.
• 2.List at least three ways the Incas used
  Llamas.
• 3.Explain why Llama presentation is important in
  the showring.
• Be prepared to explain and justify your
  answers.

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Questions?
Comments?
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