8.08.2007

Meets the Llamas



Yesterday we spent some time taking pictures of our new llamas while Sage worked. 186 pictures, to be exact. Yikes! They're so expressive and so willing to pose for the camera that I didn't know when to stop. I am learning that although they don't really like hands, they love faces. You can stick your face right next to theirs, and they won't shy away. They love to suck in your breath, like they're memorizing who you are. So since the camera appears to be a natural extension of my face, they don't mind being photographed at all.


We're not adopting Princess, but this picture was too funny not to share. She was super lovey-dovey yesterday, and was kissing everybody in sight. Sam wasn't too sure about it, though. Princess thinks she's a pony, by the way, and has developed a rather healthy crush on a strapping Welsh pony named King. She's a shameless flirt whenever King's around.

This pretty girl is Kiska. She's a wool llama (not sure if there's a proper term for that?). Some llamas are shorn for their wool. Kiska feel like cashmere and has those gorgeous, feathery banana ears.
And a set of big, black kissy lips. She's be so mad at me if she knew I posted such an unflattering picture of her.
There goes Princess again, smooching Sage up.
This is Salcha, resting and chewing her cud after her morning meal. Salcha broke a back leg when she was young, and is lame, so she doesn't pack, and she doesn't have the pretty, silky wool like Kiska, but she's a great companion llama.
This regal beauty is Taiya. She is trained to pack and is as magestic and aloof as she appears in this picture. She's going to take some getting to know. I think she's happiest when she's out on the trail, so that's exactly where she'll be as often as we can.

And lastly, and probably my favorite, is Bandito. You'll be seeing a lot of him, I think. :) Bandito is an odd duck. He is trained to pack, and will take the lead on the trail, and is even used as a teacher to train other llamas to pack. With all those great qualities, you'd think he'd be a stud muffin, macho guy. Nope. He's just the opposite. This guy gets so stressed out that he has ulcers. He's a little underweight, because rather than establish himself in the pecking order and take his place at the feeder, he lets the other llamas crowd him out and is the last to eat, sometimes not getting his share. He tends to hang out in the enclosure when the other llamas are out in the pasture lying in the sun. He has some skin problems that are probably from all the stress. So I have a soft spot for him. We're hoping that in a quieter home with fewer animals and more one-on-one attention that Bandito will be happier.
Bandito's the one who let Paul pet his face, and who nuzzled his head on Paul's shoulder. So we're hoping that's a good sign that he'll be happy here.
We can't wait to bring them home!





1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to hear Llama stories!!

Congrats!!