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This llama lives in a pasture a few kilometers down the road from us. It’s been there for at least a couple of years now. I’ve always thought it was quite a distinguished looking creature and have been meaning to stop and photograph it for months, but either I don’t have my camera with me, or I do, but the llama is so far across the field that it wouldn’t make much of an image. However, everything finally came together a couple of days ago and I shot these pictures.

The llama seems to be something of a loner. He or she lives in a field full of cattle, but I get the distinct impression that it doesn’t care much for their company. From spring through autumn, the llama spends much of its time in the corner of the field farthest from the barn. We’ve often seen its ghostly shape in the corner of the field, even late at night as we’ve passed by. Sometimes I wonder if it misses the company of others of its own kind.

Over the years, we’ve kept an assortment of animals, but never a llama. I’ve spun their fleece, as well as that of alpaca, and occasionally thought that it might be nice to have one around, but we’re past the stage of wanting the responsibility of caring for livestock.

My only firsthand contact with llamas was about fifteen years ago when I was in charge of an educational exhibit at one of the local fairs. We invited various livestock associations to set up a display on their chosen breeds. The display included an adult llama — quite a stately individual who stood quietly chewing its cud while gazing at the visitors over the weekend of the fair. One evening, some rowdy teenagers stopped to stare at the animal. One of the boys said something rude in a mocking tone of voice. Usually, the llama simply ignored the visitors, but this time, it walked to the front of the stall and spit on the boy’s face. It was very messy and certainly cleared the crowd away from in front of the stall in a matter of moments. I must admit that I laughed to myself and thought “Good for you!”

Tags: llama