Llama Llunch Pack

LLAMA LLUNCH PACK

January 15, 2011

Llamas won't carry people, but they will carry your lunch, or camping equipment, or other items weighing less than 100 pounds. Bahama Llama and Pajama Llama are ShangriLlama's pack llamas, because they are both fully grown adult males with nice, straight backs. Their packs are custom-made just for llamas! The base is fleece, the saddle is a moldable leather, and the left and right packs are nylon. This llama pack would have cost $500.00 new, but Mama Llama bought it at half price from the owner of the llama pack company, who now raises horses. What a lucky find!

Guess what you would discover inside the llama pack below? Lunch for five people! That's right. Bahama Llama is pictured here carrying everyone's lunch on our animal adventure to the park. He also has a half case of water in his pack. Bahama Llama is perfectly content serving as the pack llama, because that's what llamas are primarily used for.  

 

Bahama Llama Carries Lunch for Five People

Do you know why Bahama Llama was chosen as the pack llama? It's because he's...well...pleasantly plump. By carrying the pack, he has to spend a few more calories to get around, and that's good. If a llama gets too chubby, its ankles (pasterns) start to get spongy. After a while, the llama will not walk correctly and then can't walk very far. Wish Bahama Llama luck getting the weight off, because he has a huge appetite, despite many efforts to satisfy him with lower-calorie feed. But he sure is handsome and has the best temperament that Mama Llama has ever encountered. So he really is pleasantly plump.

But Pajama Llama is overweight, too, so he'll be trading off with Bahama Llama to carry the pack on upcoming Llama Walks. Mama Llama thinks she overheard these two chubby llamas talking about joining Jenny Craig as their New Year's resolution. Now that would be an interesting ad campaign!

Happy Trails from Mama Llama!



Llama Cousins

LLAMA COUSINS

JANUARY 15, 2011

These are the llama's four cousins. 

Do you see the resemblance?

Llamas

Guanaco, the llama's wild cousin

Alpacas

Vicuna, the alpaca's wild cousin

Yup, it's a camel--distant cousin of the llama and alpaca

Why does Mama Llama favor the llama over its camelid cousins? Well, it's pretty obvious when it comes to the camel. Scary! Don't mess with a camel! Then we have the wild cousins--guanaco (gwan'-ah-co) and vicuna (vah-coon'-yah), which, like the domesticated alpaca, are "sheepish," meaning that you can't easily hug or pet them or pal around with them.

But llamas? They're highly social animals. They like to be stroked on their long necks, and they're the only camelids you would enjoy taking a walk with. That's one of the many reasons that we established our private zoo for llamas--so you can spend some time getting to know this very friendly animal. We stock males only, because within the camelid family, male llamas are the friendliness. There's a method to our madness here at ShangriLlama!

And isn't it interesting how many colors the llama comes in? At ShangriLlama, we purposely chose different colors for our pack, among the many options which include black, white, brown, tan and gray in solid, patchwork, and spotted (appaloosa) patterns! The llama's cousins are pretty much just shades of brown--lovely browns--but brown.

It is true that the vicuna, guanaco and alpaca have more luxurious wool than a llama. But what fun is that if you can't easily pet these animals and can't afford to buy its wool at $1,800 to $3,000 per yard?!

The only thing a camel has that might be fun to have on a llama is its hump. People ask Mama Llama ALL THE TIME if they can ride llamas. Nope; no self-respecting llama will let you, because that would hurt their backs! However, lllamas will gladly carry your lunch or your camping equipment in a proper pack on their sides. Walking next to them is plenty fulfilling, just to have the pleasure of the gentle llama's company.

If you've never walked with a pack of llamas, then you're missing out on an unforgettable experience with the most gentle of the four camelid cousins. Do add this to your life's "bucket list!"

Happy Trails from Mama Llama!