7824, LLAMA 11"L are anatomically scaled to create the best reproduction of the life size stuffed animal and the most realistic stuffed animal in the industry.

Llamas are known as quirky, long-necked animals that notoriously spit, occasionally hum, and are often confused with close relatives,  alpaca.   Both belong to  a group called camelids, which includes camels, guanacos, and vicunas. Native to the mountains of South America, llamas (known scientifically and somewhat comically as Lama glama) were first imported to the U.S. in the late 1800s  as oddities in zoos. Today, there are more than 170,000 llamas in the U.S. and Canada.   

Fun Facts About Llamas

1. Native people of the Andes Mountains have historically saddled the (mostly willing) animals to move goods over the area's grueling terrain. Carrying loads of up to 75 pounds, llamas can travel as many as 20 miles a day. Sometimes hundreds of them make up pack trains, efficiently transporting items en masse.

2. Occasionally, when their patience is tested, they lie down or refuse to move. (Ever heard the phrase "stubborn as a mule"?) The irritated animals may also hiss, spit, or kick until their load is lightened.

3. When angry, llamas may act aggressively. Often spitting to establish pecking order within the herd or to ward off an unwanted suitor. Their spit is sometimes green, the result of half-digested food, and can be flung 10 feet or more.  They rarely spit on humans. Llamas will also kick, bite, or charge if they feel threatened.

4. While looking very similar to alpacas, there are many subtle differences between the two.

 Llamas tend to be taller and weigh more the standing about four feet at the shoulder and weighing between 280 and 350 pounds.  While Alpacas are about  three feet tall at the shoulder and weigh between 120 and 145 pounds.

 Llamas also have long, banana-shaped ears while alpacas have short, pear-shaped ears. 

Llamas' faces are long while alpacas' are short and blunt, giving them a smooshed-in look. 

On a personality level, llamas are more independent than alpacas, which prefer to be around their herds.

5. Llamas are especially vocal. Mothers often hum to communicate with their babies, called crias.  Babies learn to recognize their mothers this way. They also make this noise when they're anxious, tired, uncomfortable, excited, or just curious. In addition to humming, llamas make a unique gurgling noise called an "orgle" when  mating. Female llamas will sometimes make clicking noises.
6. Llamas are sometimes called upon for protection duties. Farmers often use them to guard herds of small animals, like sheep, goats, and even alpacas, as they have been known to boldly chase off predators like coyotes. Always on alert, these protectors are also usually friendly with their flocks. Sometimes they'll even "adopt" smaller livestock as their personal herd.
7. Researchers are working to create a universal flu vaccine that would be effective against every strain of the virus, and llamas are playing a big part of the research. Scientists have developed a nasal spray derived from several llama antibodies that works by targeting many strains of the flu all at once. If ever approved, it could replace the need for an annual flu shot.
8. Like Labradors and miniature horses, llamas have a soothing aura about them. They can be trained as professional comforters, working as therapy animals in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. One of the better-known therapy llamas was Rojo from near Portland, Oregon. He became the subject of two children's books and made many media appearances before passing away at age 17.
9. It doesn't take much to make a llama happy. Llamas and alpacas require less land and food than many other farm animals.  Depending on the quality of the pasture, just an acre of land is enough to sustain four llamas (or as many as 10 alpacas). Cows, on the other hand, need about two acres each.  Unlike some animals that destroy pastures as they graze, llamas and alpacas trim the grass instead of pulling it up by the roots. They also walk gently on the land instead of making gouges or furrows with their feet.

Product Dimension: 11.00(L) X 6.00(W) X 13.00(H)

HANSA CREATION, INC.  Farm Animals is HANSA CREATION's hand-crafted collection of realistic plush animals. It takes great pride in each enchanting work of soft sculpture art, carefully designed to educate, fascinate, captivate and inspire creative play for collectors of all ages.

Artists create each HANSA animal from portraits of the creature in its natural habitat appropriately called Hansa Creation Portrait's in Nature. It is HANSA's uncompromising integrity in design and quality standards that has charmed collectors for generations and continues to mesmerize new collectors of all ages.