Known for their haughty demeanour, woolly charm, and propensity to spit when threatened, llamas have a rich and varied history. Since their domestication high in the Andes they have been sacrificed, farmed, smuggled, and petted. They have functioned at different times as luxury commodities, literary muses, and national symbols, and have served as beasts of burden, circus performers, and even golf caddies.
This book charts the history of llamas and their close relatives, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas. Venerated by the Incas, llamas are still cherished in
their native Peru and Bolivia, and remain central to Andean culture. After
several unsuccessful acclimatisation attempts in the nineteenth century,
llamas and alpacas have also become popular pets in Britain, North
America, and Australia, where they are used for trekking, meat and wool
production, and as therapy animals. Llama recounts the animal’s colourful
history and explores its presence in art, literature, and film.
Packed with llama drama and alpaca facts, Llama shows that there’s
much more to llamas than spitting.
