The Call of the Llamas

The Call of the Llamas
This poetic and culturally-rich documentary blends animation, expert insights, and intimate portrayals of Andean life to tell the story of the llama—an animal sacred to the Andes—across time.

Mythical beginning: In the starry sky, ancient Andeans saw the Yakana, a cosmic llama descending to Earth to nourish springs and bless those it touched. Through animation, the celestial llama takes form in the Milky Way.

Present-day llama herders: From Huancavelica to Q'ero and Pasco, llama-raising families adorn their herds for caravan journeys. They express a spiritual and practical bond with llamas, who provide wool, meat, and income.

Origins and science: Experts explain the evolutionary migration of camelids, their domestication in ancient Peru, and their vital role in Inca civilization—as transport, in rituals, and in economy.

Decline: Spanish colonization, forced overuse, imported livestock, and climate change devastated the llama population. Many young Peruvians are turning away from llama herding. Today, fewer than 700,000 llamas remain in Peru.

Global rise: Meanwhile, llamas are flourishing abroad. In the U.S., U.K., and Asia, llamas are used for eco-tourism, therapy, farming, and even golf caddies. North America now has more llamas than Peru.

Hopeful resurgence: Initiatives like Llama Pack Project in Cusco seek to restore the llama’s role in highland communities through sustainable tourism and conservation.

Final message: As the stars reappear, the celestial llama returns to the sky. The narrator reminds us: as long as there is life in the Andes, the llama and its people are bound together in an ancient cosmic dance.