In the stunning mountains of France, one of the last animals you’d expect to see is a llama, and yet that’s exactly what these mountain bikers came face-to-face with while riding at Morzine in the Chablais mountain range. Spanish mountain biker Burgaz shared this clip that he captured alongside Marcos Lopez of the two working together to scare off an approaching llama.
All About Llamas
Llamas are remarkable animals, standing between 3-4 feet tall at the shoulders and 5-6 feet tall at the head. Adults typically weigh between 250 and 450 pounds. They’re specifically built to survive in high-altitude environments with little oxygen thanks to the high concentration of hemoglobin in their blood. Additionally, their thick fur acts as protection from animal bites, and the ability to spit helps them deter predators.
Humans first domesticated llamas in the mountains of Peru where they’ve served many different purposes. People use llama wool to make clothing and rope, the skin for leather, the fat for making candles, and the excrement for fuel. Llamas can be a food source through both their milk and meat, or they can be used as pack animals, carrying 25-30% of their bodyweight.
They also excel at being guardian animals, protecting herds of livestock from intruding canine or other predators. Llamas are not native to France, though their ability to thrive in high-altitude environments makes them suitable for the Alps. It seems likely that the llama in this video came from a nearby farm, potentially as a guardian animal for a herd of sheep or something similar.
Morzine
The village of Morzine and its surrounding mountains is a year-round holiday destination. In the winter, it offers world-class skiing. In the summer, Morzine is a peak destination for mountain biking and hiking. Located in the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area, stretching across 12 resorts and into two countries (France & Switzerland). In the summer months, Portes du Soleil is a peak destination for mountain biking, hiking, trail running, road cycling, and much more.
