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Lovable Llamas
Pet Power (February/March 1998)
"Llamas are very special!" says Candia Midworth, association secretary of the British Llama and Alpaca Association. "I know I'm biased,
but people who don't know them soon become fascinated. They're highly intelligent, naturally curious, and surprisingly sensitive - they can
be extremely gentle with handicapped children or the elderly for example. They seem to sense that they must treat them with care and
respect."
There are now around 2,000 llamas in the country, and the association has members from all over the UK and beyond - people from all
walks of life ranging in age from the early twenties to seventy or more.
Their reasons for keeping llamas are equally varied. Some are farmers
seeking to diversify, others own 'pick-your-own' fruit farms or garden
centres, and have llamas as an added attraction. Some people keep them
for their fibre, or organise treks for ramblers. They can even be a useful
publicity tool. One member raises enormous sums for leukemia research
by taking his llamas to fêtes and shopping malls.
And then there are those who keep llamas for the sheer love of them.
Norma Chandler from Winterbourne in South Gloucestershire certainly
falls into this category, although it's much more than a hobby. She and
her GP husband Richard breed them for sale, exhibit and compete at
agricultural shows, sell their wool and organise the occasional trek. "We
don't advertise, but if people ring up, we're happy to take them," she says.
"We don't do catering, so they have to bring their own picnic. But at least
they know they won't have to carry it!"
The Chandler's love affair with llamas began 10 years ago when the
children outgrew their ponies leaving their parents with 11 acres of unused
land. "We decided we'd do something different," she explains. "Something
that would involve the whole family. So we bought a stud male and three
wives."...
© Alison Thomas
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