Has Anyone ever heard of a llama attacking a human for no reason?

Question

My brother in law was attacked by ba llama I was called to help rescue him and it was the scariest thing I have ever encountered. There was no porovocation. He was outside heard something behind him and there was this llama .It screamed at him and then pounced.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, it's true that occasionally there are llamas who will attack unprovoked. It is a VERY rare occurance. Most llamas are "aloof" and "stand-offish" and will go the other way when a person enters their pen, but there is a syndrome called "abberrant male syndrome" or "berserk male llama syndrome" where a llama will attack a human. This mostly happens with male llamas who were either bottle fed as babies, or who grew up in petting zoos. These llamas can sometimes "imprint" on humans and they will see humans as other llamas. As male llamas grow up and hormones start to rage, they see all humans as competition and will attack to defend their territory. This is NOT normal llama behavior. The llama that attacked your brother in law needs serious rehabilitation by an expert and may even need to be put down.

The other time llamas may attack is if they are, or have been guard animals for other animals such as goats or sheep. They may see people in the pasture as a "threat" to their herd and will attack to protect their herd. In this case, they are merely doing their job, and it's the persons responsibility to take extra care whenever entering the pasture. The vast majority of guards do NOT get agressive like this, but there are a few that will protect their herd at all costs. Many guardian dogs also get agressive toward people when they are guarding their herd, it's just part of the protecting instinct.

I have been working with llamas for years and I have never witnessed this type of behavior and hope that I never do. I did see one person knocked over by a llama one time, but it was only because the llama was rushing to the fence to investigate a new llama on the other side, and the person happened to be in the way. Most of the time when you enter a llamas pasture they will just walk the other way, even if they are tame and well-trained. A well behaved llama will not approach a person, but will wait for the person to approach him first.

I also want to add that llamas do NOT have hooves. They have padded feet covered with two toenails that sometimes need trimming. If you get kicked it does sting, but it's nothing like being kicked by a cow or horse. Also, while llamas do try to bite each other when they fight, they do not have top teeth in the front part of their mouth, so biting really doesn't do much. Adult males do grow some very sharp fighting teeth (meant for fighting with other male llamas), but any responsible owner has them removed as soon as the come in so that they won't do any damage to other llamas. When male llamas fight with each other, they will usually scream and ram into each other with their chests, they may also spit, rear up, and try to bite. The behavior that could do the most damage to a human is the chest ramming, as they are strong animals and adult males can weigh anywhere from 300 to 450 pounds.

Answer 2

Randy is correct. Yes, watch those hooves and teeth. A good kick could do some damage. Yet alone a bite that takes your cheek off.
Any animal is capable of attacking--most don't that are domesticated. But they are animals and can be unpredictable. Most accidents with horses are caused by the person's own horse. Always be careful and watchful.
If you look on the web-there are thousands of stories.
The llama does not have the fright run as would be the horse. But both use running as there main defense. If it happens again somehow--try scaring it to running away. Slapping a rope or branch. Best advise stay out of unfamiliar pastures. It could have been worst.

Answer 3

The llama was defending his territory. Your brother was in it. It's that simple. Llama's are very territorial which is why they are used to protect herds of sheep and other smaller animals.

If you were to go into a backyard a dog would do the same thing. So would a bull (with much worse consequences, with either, I'm sure). Hopefully your brother learned his lesson from the llama.

The animal's provocation was the trespassing human that he didn't know.

Answer 4

Hello there:
Yes, I have heard of this and although you might not think of Llama's as attackers the can be. No matter how tame any animal is, it can still go back to it's natural defense's and territorial fighting areas. The llama might have been protecting his space, felt threatened or even it could have been a mating ritual and was showing his virility.
I hope this helps
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Answer 5

I would think one of two things he was between a female and her baby or he was close to or too close to a female that one wanted.Or Llama's do have a really good sense of smell maybe something that didnt smell good to the Llama.

Answer 6

Hmm- No. But then, I don't often hear of llamas attacking people at all. However, llamas are closely related to camels- and camels can be a bit ill-tempered at times.

Answer 7

I have seen something just like that on "when animals attack" show. It was being video taped and the guy was just walking in pasture with llamas. He didn't do anything either to ask for it.

Take Care

Answer 8

I have a friend that has 12 Llamas and they have one that you cannot turn your back on for that reason. Two people have to go in at once and watch him. He can be very aggressive!!!!! They are big and the hooves are SHARP!!

Answer 9

Llama Attack

Answer 10

llamas are very ill-tempered Don't get to close.