Sir Bani Yas has welcomed a baby llama to its wildlife family — the first of its species to be born on the island.

There are currently seven llamas on Sir Bani Yas Island — five females and two males. The calf, a male, will stay with its mother for six months before becoming independent.

Llamas are a South American relative of the camel but do not have a hump. These sociable animals can be found wandering in herds, grazing on grass or various other plants. As they can be found in mountainous areas, they have adapted to needing little water. Llamas have also been domesticated and used as pack animals for thousands of years.

An 87-square kilometre island located off the coast of Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas was developed into a wildlife reserve by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan.

Today, as a result of dedicated environmental and conservation efforts, more than 13,000 free-roaming animals and birds, including Oryx, gazelles, deer, ostriches, giraffes and cheetahs, call the island home.

Guests who wish to visit or stay on Sir Bani Yas can enjoy short direct flights through Rotana Jet or seaplane rides by Seawings from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, or can avail of boat transfers from Jebel Dhanna in the Western Region.

Source:

www.thenational.ae