The not-so-stupid question: why do we breed llamas in France?

These charming animals don’t go unnoticed. With their gown of brown, ocher or white hair and their lengthy neck, it's unimaginable to not discover them. Between two meadows of cows, the herds of llamas are actually a part of the French panorama.

With their small cousins ​​the alpacas, they’re at present greater than 15,000 in France.

Llamas to combat fires

And but, it’s not so way back that we might nonetheless say that they had been unique animals! The primary breeding made in France was born in Vaucluse in 1984 underneath the management of Pierre-André Scherrer. It was he who opened the doorways of our meadows to those animals straight from the Andes, in South America.

Removed from being beasts of the feast, the llamas had been above all a utilitarian goal. “The purpose was to clear the forest to stop fires“, Says Marie Scherrer, his spouse, who took over from the farm.

Additionally learn: Near Lens, an alpaca mother gives birth to a small female in the Cytises park

From dromedary to llama

The concept got here to him in 1979, after a horrible hearth ravaged the forest round his property. His gaze shifted first to the dromedary to eat the bush, however ultimately fell again on his camelid cousin, smaller and able to going over harder to succeed in terrain, the llama.

Since, farms have multiplied in France.

The place the llama passes, the grass dies

“The llama makes it attainable to clear the comb the place man and machine don’t cross”, emphasizes Isabelle Leydier Delavallade, president of the Nationwide Union of Llamas and Alpaca Breeders (SNELA), to elucidate this craze.

Native to the Andes, the llama adapts equally nicely to steep areas and plains. Its pads on the finish of the legs enable it to not injury the flooring, and he cuts the grass together with his enamel quite than pulling it out like goats do. One thing to enchantment to farmers, cattle breeders and different landowners.

The wool of its alpaca cousin can be very fashionable for its hypo-allergenic qualities.

Additionally learn: A llama mows the lawn of a campsite in Vendée!

Your mountaineering companion

However llamas are above all standard pets for leisure actions. “Earlier than, we had been outsiders within the salons, however at present there’s quite a lot of sympathy for these animals,” says Patricia Descours, president of the French Llamas and Alpacas Affiliation (AFLA).

He’s a really pleasant animal, removed from the fame that Captain Haddock gave him.

Within the Pyrenees, farms supply hikes with llamas. We will't journey them however use it as a pack animal. In different phrases, he’s the one carrying your backpack.

“Its pads additionally give it entry to pure parks by which horses are prohibited,” argues Patricia Descours.

Between 800 and three,000 euros per llama

Llamas are categorised as home animals. Nonetheless, sure circumstances should be met to buy them. “It is a 15-year dedication,” remembers Laurence Marandola, breeder of llamas within the Pyrenees.

I’ve quite a lot of requests for llamas for birthday presents, however I refuse! Behind, I’ve folks calling me as a result of they've been provided a llama they usually don't know what to do with it… Each month I’ve requests like this.

They’re social animals that reside in herds, so they’re normally offered in pairs or three, minimal. “The llama and the alpaca are gregarious animals that should to be raised with their friends, depriving them of this atmosphere is taken into account to be mistreatment, ”insists the president of AFLA. It’s also essential to have a subject giant sufficient to accommodate them.

The price of a llama is estimated to be between 800 and three,000 euros. In case you really feel like shopping for some, know that the breeder reserves the suitable to look at the circumstances of reception of the animal in your house earlier than closing the sale.

Additionally learn: Channel: Ursula, the female llama escaped from her refuge, has been found