The llama is native to parts of South America, including the high altitudes of Bolivia, Chile and Peru. It is part of the camel family, although it has no hump. No longer found in the wild, it is raised for many reasons.
These nimble animals measure about four feet high at the shoulders and have bodies about six feet long. Their backs, sides and tails are usually covered with long hair ranging from white to black. They have large, alert ears and pretty, dark eyes shaded with long eyelashes. The Creator has provided them with thick, long hair to keep them warm in the chilly mountains.
Because they are exceptionally clean and odor-free and their feet are well-padded, some llamas become real favorites with an owner’s family, and even live inside the house as pets.
As pack animals, they can carry loads of 75 to 100 pounds and can travel 15 to 20 miles a day. They normally travel quietly, just passing occasional “hmmms” among themselves along the way. However, llamas can be very stubborn. If their load is too heavy, they lie down and refuse to get up until some of the load is removed. Some refuse to move at all if they are tired. They set their own walking pace on the trails and will not go any faster even if the driver tries to make them do so. But aside from these stubborn streaks, they are valuable and lovable animals.
While useful as pack animals, llamas are also valuable to their owners in other ways. They can be sheared like sheep for their hair, which is prized for its warmth. Even in a light yarn, their hair makes warm cloth because it has a hollow core, making it an excellent insulator against cold. They are also raised for their meat, hides and bones, and their dung makes good fertilizer.
Llamas are extremely social animals. Miserable if they don’t have another llama to live with, they will readily bond with other kinds of animals. This works well for farmers, who may use a male llama to guard a flock of sheep. These guard llamas take on the care of the sheep as if they were their own kind, bravely guarding them from predators. They kick or trample to death coyotes or even wolves, but if the animal is too large, they will be killed themselves unless their urgent calls bring help.
This is a lovely picture, even in an animal, of our opening verse. The Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd who not only died for us, but now lives for us in heaven. He is stronger than all our enemies. He is my Good Shepherd. Is He yours?
Did You Know?
Farmers use llamas to guard flocks of sheep.
Messages of God’s Love 6/22/2025