Face-to-Face with an iconic mammal

 (Léase en español / Read in Spanish)

Nothing is more iconic to Bolivia than the omnipresent llama (pronounced “YAH-mah” in Spanish). When most people think of Bolivia (if they’ve even heard of the country), they often think of the llama. This is understandable since two-thirds of the world’s llamas (or about 2.5 million) live in Bolivia! In fact, the llama is Bolivia’s National Animal and is the only mammal depicted on their flag, located inside the Coat of Arms, as seen to the right. (To make it larger click on the picture.) According to the Bolivian Constitution, the llama “symbolizes the richness of the fauna of the Republic.”

Another interesting fact that shows the importance of the llama in Bolivia is in their Sign Language. The sign for the country of Bolivia is a combination of the sign for llama and for flag.

So it was inevitable that we would come face-to-face with llamas in Bolivia. And what
a face!

Wallaby NOT Llama

What a beautiful, soft and cuddly face! You might think their face resembles a camel (to which they are related), but to me their faces are much softer in expression. In fact, their faces remind me more of the face of a wallaby - an animal of which I am very fond. Look at the photo on the right of a wallaby in Australia that my husband and I were able to hand-feed. Do you see the resemblance? It is also interesting to note that the Bolivian Sign for kangaroo (wallaby) is very similar to that for llama.



I have been close to llamas before (in the US), but these two were very different. Their faces were much slimmer and more velvety than the others I remember. I have read that very few Bolivian llamas are exported, so they may in fact be a little different from the others. At first I was hesitant to get too close (everyone knows they spit), but no worries, these two were very well-behaved.

They even give kisses! The photo on the left you may recognize from the profile of our Google+ page.

My first llama encounter was here in Tarija. Is that unusual? Well, although there are millions of llamas in Bolivia, they do not actually live in all parts of Bolivia. Their normal habitat is in the Andean plateaus (called the “Altiplano”) at an elevation of 3,000 to 5,500 meters (9,500 to 16,500 ft) above sea level; whereas here in Tarija we are only at 2,000 meters (6,000 ft). The dry temperatures in the Altiplano range from cool to below freezing year round; whereas some humid summer days in Tarija can get over 32°C (90°F).

So why are there llamas in Tarija? Well, there are only two (that we are aware of), named Copo and Chocolate, and they are pets of a local family.

This is Chocolate

This is Copo

They used to live with other llamas in a herd in Potosi, another Department in Bolivia in the Altiplano. But there has been a drought the past few years and the grass has almost disappeared.

   
The owners decided to bring down two young llamas to Tarija and see if they could survive here. So far, so good. They’ve been here almost 2 years and the summers have not been too hard on them.


OK, but what about the other 2,499,998 llamas in Bolivia? Where are they? What are they doing? Who cares for them? What are they used for? Be sure to read Part 2!

 (Léase en español / Read in Spanish)