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Llamas, members of the camelid family, are believed to have their origins in the central plains of North America around 40 million years ago. The dawn of the Ice-Age, saw a southerly migration into the South American Andes of the guanaco and vicuna, which adapted to the inhospitable climate, sporadic moisture, high altitude, vast daily temperature fluctuations and unpredictable food supply of the region. Domestication of the guanaco and vicuna is thought to have given rise to the llama and alpaca, with the llama originating from the guanaco and the alpaca from the vicuna. The earliest domesticated animal, llamas were first trained by the Incas in the high Andes Mountains close to Lake Titicaca around 4,000 years ago. The Inca tribesmen used the intelligent highly trainable camelids for hauling and carrying, but llamas were much more than beasts of burden. The Incas called the llama "silent brother", they recognised the llamas importance as a source of meat, fibre for clothing and blankets, skins for shelter and as a sacrifice to the Inca gods. The Incas had a high dependence on these animals. Domestication of the llama allowed the additional use as a beast of burden as well as selective breeding for specific traits. The adaptability and efficiency of the llama as a pack animal made it possible to link the diverse altitude area of the mountainous Andes and to cover great distances of the region. Llamas and alpacas were so important to the Inca culture and economy that they were the property of the government. State herdsmen controlled the breeding and production of llamas and this was closely monitored.
The arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the early 1500's had a huge effect on the llamas and alpacas in the Andes. The Spanish destroyed almost all of the llamas and alpacas, putting in their place their own domestic animals, mainly sheep. The Incas and their animals were forced to move to higher altitudes over 4000 metres. Decimated in numbers, these hardy animals adapted to the harsh climate and terrain and developed the ability to live on low protein vegetation where only the strongest survived.

Hi G.W. - play will start on time! Sorry that's not much use at ten to eleven!