Watch This Indomitable Lama Beat All Odds and Fend Off Two Attacking Mountain Lions!

Written by Sharon Parry
Updated: October 18, 2023
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This was a race for survival that the guanaco (a wild lama) won. Despite the best efforts of two mountain lions, it manages to escape and rejoin its herd. Click the link to see the incredible footage of this battle for survival.

Click Below to Watch the Impressive Footage!

Where Do Mountain Lions Normally Live?

Mountain lion with forest background

Mountain lions

live in nearly every environment.

©Evgeniyqw/Shutterstock.com

Guanacos are found in the Andes mountains and on the lower plateaus and plains in Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Therefore, this footage was captured somewhere in South America.

In comparison, the mountain lion has a larger range. They are found all across the Americas. This means that they can be spotted from the Canadian Yukon to The Strait of Magellan in southern Chile. In the past, they would have roamed the entire US but are now mainly limited to 14 western states and a small endangered population in Florida.

In terms of habitat, they can survive in many types of ecosystems. They are found in mountainous areas, forests, wetlands, and deserts. These guys are territorial and need a large area to thrive.

Is This How Mountain Lions Normally Hunt?

Mountain lions can reach 50 mph in short bursts.

Mountain lions normally hunt alone and are strict carnivores.

©iStock.com/slowmotiongli

Mountain lions are opportunistic hunters so they target prey that they come across. They are strict carnivores and rarely eat plants. Their typical prey is deer and elk so this guanaco (a relative of the camel) is within their size range even though it would be a challenge. The guanaco is probably three times the mountain lion’s weight and with prey like this, the mountain lion risks severe injury. Other target prey include rodents, raccoons, feral hogs, and porcupines.

A mountain lion would normally hunt alone but this one seems to have their cub as backup. The cub contributes little to the hunt but is learning valuable lessons from its parent.

Guanaco Vs Llama- Guanaco

The guanaco is a camelid native to South America, closely related to the llama.

©abriendomundo/Shutterstock.com

As this is such a large prey animal, the mountain lion may not be able to eat it all in one sitting. If the hunt had been successful, it would have probably dragged it to a secluded area and covered it with leaves. This hides it from other animals and slows down decomposition (spoilage). It would return to the carcass over several days to finish it off.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Warren Metcalf/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

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