What is the difference between a llama and an alpaca?

Both are domesticated South American camelids, but llamas are larger and were traditionally bred as pack animals, while the smaller alpaca was bred mainly for its fine wool.

How much weight can a llama carry?

A llama can typically carry about 25 to 30% of its body weight over distances of 8 to 13 km, a trait that made it valuable as an Andean pack animal.

Where do llamas come from?

Llamas were domesticated from the wild guanaco in the Andes of South America and have been raised in Peru and Bolivia for thousands of years.

Llamaラマ

Lama glamaNE— Not Evaluated

The llama is a domesticated South American camelid descended from the wild guanaco, bred in the Andes for thousands of years as a pack and fiber animal. It thrives at high altitude on coarse forage and is valued for its soft, low-lanolin wool. Not evaluated on the IUCN Red List as a domestic species, llamas remain central to Andean rural life today.

Llama (reference photo) — Photo: kallerna / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Artiodactyla / Camelidae Source
Size: Height about 1.2 m, head-body length about 2 m
Weight: 70–140 kg (average about 94.7 kg for males and 102.3 kg for females)
Lifespan: 15–25 years, rarely over 30
Diet: Herbivore Herbivorous, digesting pasture grass, alfalfa, corn silage, and similar feed; does not ruminate but has a three-chambered stomach
Distribution: A domesticated South American camelid descended from the wild guanaco, raised for millennia in the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

Llamas can carry about 25 to 30% of their body weight over 8 to 13 km, a trait long exploited as pack animals in the Andes. Source
In the treeless high Andes, llama dung remains a valuable fuel source in rural areas. Source
Gelded males or non-breeding females are often used as untrained guard animals, protecting other livestock herds from predators. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 14

Llamaラマ

Species Data

Did You Know?

Where to See This Species

Obihiro DoubutsuenHokkaidoFrom Obihiro Station, take the Tokachi Bus (Route 70, bound for Ozora Danchi) for about 18 minutes to the Dobutsuen-mae stop, then walk about 300 m; or take the Takushoku Bus for about 16 minutes to the Midorigaoka 6-chome Hakubutsukan Iriguchi stop, then walk about 600 m.

Izu Shaboten ZooShizuokaOpened in 1959

Utsunomiya DoubutsuenTochigiAbout 5 minutes from the Utsunomiya IC on the Tohoku Expressway; free parking for 1,000 cars.

Okazakishihigashi Kouen DoubutsuenAichiAbout 1 km toward Toyota from the Okazaki IC on the Tomei Expressway.

Suzaka ZooNaganoFrom the Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway, take Route 403, turn right at the Kotaka-machi intersection, turn left at the Kami-Hatcho intersection, cross Garyu Bridge, and turn left for the south entrance.

Chiba Zoological ParkChibaOpened in 1985

Nagasaki Bio ParkNagasakiOpened in 1980

Ueno ZooTokyoOpened in 1882

TOBU ZOOSaitamaFrom Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen Station (west exit), about 10 minutes on foot (600 m) or about 5 minutes by bus.

Nasu SafariParkTochigiAbout 15 minutes from the Nasu IC or about 25 minutes from the Kuroiso-Itamuro IC on the Tohoku Expressway.

Hitachishikamine DoubutsuenIbarakiAbout 5 minutes from the Hitachi-Chuo Interchange on the Joban Expressway via National Route 6.

Himeji Shiritsu DoubutsuenHyogoOpened in 1951

Hamamatsu Zoological GardensShizuokaOpened in 1950

Fuji Safari ParkShizuokaOpened in 1980

Former facilities

North Safari SapporoHokkaidoOpened in 2005

Latest news

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Sources

Support Conservation

FAQ

Books & gear