Taking Your Cues From Alpacas and Llamas

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Cathy Spalding
www.gentlespiritllamas.com

Alpacas and llamas are keen observers of their environment, and in constant communication in one form or another with each other as well as with their human caretakers. They communicate individually as they feel and see from their own perspective. They communicate together as a group or entire herd. Noted experts have spent considerable time studying the behaviors of the guanaco and vicuna and the possible evolutions of specific communication - observing them wild and untamed in their natural environments in South America. By contrast, the alpaca and llama have always been subject to human management and have never been wild. There is no knowledge of the existence of a renegade herd turned wild - having somehow separated from human management. Though no expert feels certain of the exact origins of either the alpaca or llama, they are genetically considered to be some combination of their wild cousins, including perhaps even ones that may now be extinct. It is theorized that this long evolution of domestication for the alpaca and llama includes behavioral adaptations as a result of their "forever" human management.

It is relatively easy by comparison to study a group in the wild - in their natural environment - than to study a group within an endless combination of domestic environments. The size, terrain and climate of the environment combined with the unique qualities and styles of their human management can be a vastly different experience from one herd to the next. It would be rare that an alpaca or llama could become a member of any herd based solely on the decisions made by the herd group, much less have control of their wanderings beyond the fenced boundaries of their caretakers domain. We all adapt as best we might to our surroundings - our environment. Few behavioral studies have been conducted for the domesticated alpaca and llama, though certainly much information is drawn from their wild cousins. A good bit of what we know today has also come from our own personal observations.

Understand Your Herd's Dynamics

A general understanding of your particular herd dynamics is very useful as an indicator of the overall general health and well being of your animals. It is important to know your animals as a herd as well as individuals.

• What are their normal groups?
• Are some close pature buddys while others may not be getting along?
• Are some at one feeding station but never at another?
• In anyone a loner?
• What is the seeming social heirarchy?
• Who would seem to be ruling the patures and who might seem to be clining to that last social wrung?
• What is the normal activity for the alpaca or llama holding those positions, and what is the normal activity for those occupying the rungs in between?
• Who stands guard? Are their several?

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