Dear Editor:

Llamas don’t want to haul humans’ gear up treacherous mountain slopes, help hunters kill other animals, or be used as terrified alarm systems.

Spitting is not a “bad trait”; it’s the animals’ way of expressing that they are upset or feel threatened. Rather than try to force them to accept a life of being rented out to strangers, tugged by ropes and dragged into unfamiliar areas to watch other animals die, a caring guardian would acknowledge what these sentient beings are communicating — and respect it.

Far from being “fearless,” llamas emit stress calls to warn their herds of impending danger, such as an approaching coyote, mountain lion or ocelot. It isn’t hard to imagine how petrified they must be when hunters leave them exposed overnight in the wilderness, tethered to stakes so they can’t flee — all to exploit their inherent anxiety about predators.

Llamas are intelligent, sensitive animals who lead rich, full lives when allowed to live as nature intended. And they suffer when their needs are ignored, just like humans and all other animals do. 

Sincerely,

Michelle Kretzer

The PETA Foundation

Norfolk, Virginia