National Llama Day

Strap on your hiking boots because it's National Llama Day! December 9 is a designated day to appreciate these intelligent and trainable creatures. You'll need to visit the Andes mountains to see their wild cousins, which are called guanacos. Guanacos are believed to have originated in the central plains of North America approximately 40 million years ago. However, they gradually migrated to South America, where they were domesticated around 4,500 BCE, gaining the llama moniker.
As seen in today's image, guanacos are often spotted roaming free in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina, sporting dark cinnamon wool and cartoonish-looking faces. Cute as they are, they can be a bit rude: both guanacos and llamas defend themselves by spitting to assert dominance within their herd or to keep intrusive peers at bay. Don't let this deter you from going on an organized llama trek though, they can make for great pack animal companions!
© Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott/Minden Pictures