Questions From Readers

By Cathy Spalding
www.gentlespiritllamas.com

Dams Licking Cria

Photo courtesy of Cris Jennings
      Dragon Mist Llamas

While it seems licking a cria is not a very common practice of alpaca and llama mommas ... or for alpacas and llamas in general, it does happen. Some mommas will lick their babies particularly in the first few days after birth. It is normally about the mouth though on occasion I have seen a mom lick her new baby on the little rear when the baby's tail is up as it begins to search for milk. I actually have a great photo of a llama mom licking her baby about the face that I will include here. That would seem to be about the extent of it though. They certainly do not "clean" their young or eat/lick the birth membrane, as do some other animals.

With best regards, Cathy

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