From the Andes to the Apennines: rise and fall of a free-ranging population of feral llamas

Since 2016, a feral population of llama Lama glama has been present in Central Italy afterescaping from a zoological garden and starting to reproduce. We updated demographic status anddistribution of this population and investigated societal perception towards the llama presence andmanagement in the area through a standard questionnaire. Field data were collected through direct(transects traveled by car and on foot) and indirect (newspapers, social networks and online platforms)research. The feral population appears to be declining. In July 2020, the population was representedby three individuals (one male and two females), identified also through photoidentification, mostlikely located within a 40-hectare area. The majority of citizens are aware of the presence of feralllamas and show a positive attitude toward them and a negative one toward management actions.The case of feral llamas in Italy is an evident example of unsafe management of a species whichshould have kept in a zoo and which, once set free, was able to catalyze the attention of the generalpublic. The decline of this population limits the need of drastic management actions that, given theappreciation expressed by people and press toward these animals, would have been at risk of conflictwith the public opinion. Removal action should be rapidly taken, i.e., before any demographicrebound and before the population becomes a stable feature of the local landscape.