Are Llama Attacks Common at Machu Picchu?
The short answer is no. No they are not. Llamas are as docile as cows and basically stand around chewing. If you’re extremely unlucky, one of them might spit something at you, or run up and try to brush you with his soft, soft, fur. The only way you’re going to be attacked by a llama is if you really, really deserve it. For the most part there is absolutely no concern about llama attacks at Machu Picchu.
However…
Llamas are animals and all animals have a breaking point. Unfortunately, a lot of people in the presence of an animal like to see exactly where that breaking point is. Sometimes this curiosity is born out of malice, and sometimes it’s out of sheer stupidity. Basically if you travel enough, you’ll eventually see some person do something stupid and you’ll find yourself rooting for the llama to retaliate (although, let’s face it, that won’t end well for the llama).
My experience has taught me that not everyone has had the opportunity to be around farm animals. A lot of people have grown up in the city and everything they know about animals they learned from watching ‘Crocodile Hunter.’ Unfortunately, that’s made them think that they’re somehow doing something “educational” by going up to an animal in the wild and pulling on its legs or whatever, then dancing back in short shorts screaming, “crickey!”
The llamas aren’t the main draw at Machu Picchu, they’re just sort of there to chew the scenery. They wander around and tourists go, “OOOOOOhhhh, a LLAMA!” Then they take a few pictures, and that’s the end of the day for the llama. They’re about the most docile animal in the world, but even a llama is subject to the mast basic rule of animal/human interactions. The rule is just common sense, but people violate it all the time. Maybe it’s because those people are so self-absorbed they’re just unaware there are other living things out there. Maybe they’re stupid. Maybe they’re looking at their cell phones. But the fact is, people violate the rule, and that’s when bad things can happen.
What is the rule?
Here it is: DON’T GET BETWEEN AN ANIMAL AND HER BABY
That’s it. Even more basic is: JUST GIVE THE ANIMAL A LITTLE SPACE. But if you crowd an animal it will probably just run off. If you get between the mamma llama and her baby, she might feel threatened and then you don’t know what might happen. It will probably be nothing, or the llama will round up her baby and run off. Most likely in that scenario is that the llama will run away from you and crash into some other tourists who were totally oblivious to the fact that some idiots were agitating the local fauna. The only way this could be dangerous is if the llama happened to knock that tourist off a 1000 foot cliff…but that’s unlikely (could happen though…but you’re more likely to slip and break your neck in the shower).
I have seen tourists try to do stupid things like set their baby on the llama to take a picture. Don’t do that. Just don’t do stuff like that. Whether the llamas are wild or tame, just don’t be stupid. However, if you are at Machu Picchu and you are being stupid, chances are that somebody will get a video of you doing it and we’ll all get the chance to laugh at you. Any retaliation on the part of the llama will result in the llama being put down, but that’s no tragedy. Llama steaks are delicious!
Llama attacks!
