6 things to know about our friends the Lamas:

1. Lamas and alpacas are very docile, contrary to what the images of "spitting lamas" have created as a reputation. They are intelligent and were quickly domesticated, unlike vicuñas and guanaco which live in the wild in great plains or in the Andean mountains.

2. A lama can live between 10 and 20 years and is part of the camelid family, the same branch as camels. On closer inspection, it is true that it looks a lot like dromedaries!

3. It is very often thought that the llama is an animal from South America, because it is present now in the Andes mountains, but in reality it is native to North America. 3 million years ago the species migrated to South America, bones show that the lama was present in the south of the United States.

4. Traces of breeding show that the Andean peoples domesticated the lama 5000 years ago, for its fur and meat.

5. The lama wool is very often white or beige, but it is possible to find black, brown and gray wool. The wool of the lama and the alpaca is quite resistant to water and some say that even to fire.

6. In certain regions of Peru or in other countries, breeders have noticed that lamas are perfect protectors of flocks of sheep, cattles, etc. against predators. Indeed, it seems that their sense of smell and other senses are extremely developed and that they can smell way before, the arrival of pumas, the main predators of the Andes.

But to get to know them well, nothing better than to come and meet them in the Vosges !!