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GALA
The Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Association
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What's a llama you ask?
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The llama was domesticated primarily as a beast of burden, while the alpaca
was developed as a fiber producer. Both are bred today to select for their
gentle nature. Llamas weigh from 240 to 450 pounds and stand up to 48 inches at
the shoulder. Alpacas are about half to a third smaller. Both are very
intelligent, strikingly beautiful and carry themselves with serene pride. They
mature at about three years of age, although females have conceived at, and
males have bred viably as young as one year. They live up to 25 years. Because
of the leather-like pad on the bottom of each two toed foot and a pacing (same
sided) gait, llamas are sure footed, low impact animals on even delicate alpine
terrain. Given the "fight or flight" enigma, they are flight oriented.
Communication is a series of hums and clicks, with subtle body, head, ear and
tail movements to express affection, dominance, submission or anger.. They have
an "alarm call", which sounds like a horse whinny, to alert others of
perceived danger. Their nature is curious, gentle, and somewhat aloof. Their
intelligence and self-respect makes training a joy.
In the year 2000, there are about 132,000 llamas and 20,000 alpacas in North
America recorded with the International Lama Registry in Kalispell, Montana.
