Berserk llama syndrome

Berserk llama syndrome or berserk male syndrome (as it is more pronounced in males) is a psychological condition suffered by human-raised llamas and alpacas that can cause them to exhibit dangerously aggressive behavior toward humans. The term has been overused, however, and is sometimes inappropriately applied to llamas with aggressive personalities that are not truly "berserk."cite web| url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070629072447/http://www.llamapaedia.com/problems/bms.html| title=Berserk Male Syndrome| publisher=Llamapaedia.com (via the Internet Archive)| date= 1997-09-21| accessdate=2007-06-29] [cite web| url=http://home.att.net/~lostcreekllamas/mta.html| title=Problematic behavior in llamas and misdirected territorial aggression| publisher=Lost Creek Llamas| accessdate=2007-10-16]

The condition is a result of the llama imprinting on its human handlers to such a degree that it considers them to be fellow llamas.cite web| url=http://stason.org/TULARC/animals/alpaca-llama/20-What-is-Berserk-Male-Syndrome-or-Can-llamas-or-alpacas-b.html| title=20 What is Berserk Male Syndrome?| date=2007-09-11| accessdate=2007-10-16| publisher=Stason.org] Imprinting can be caused by bottle feeding and by isolation from other llamas. Adult male inter-llama interaction can be quite rough, including chest-ramming and biting, and they are strongly territorial. Male llamas suffering from this condition become quite dangerous when this behavior is directed toward humans and they usually have to be euthanised. Female llamas can also suffer from berserk llama syndrome but their bad behavior is usually limited to spitting and difficult handling.

Berserk llama syndrome can be prevented from developing through training, and can also be prevented in males through castration before puberty. [cite news| url=http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_091307_animals_beserk_llama_attacks_.ce68f056.html| title=Berserk llama attacks woman in Central Oregon| date= 2007-09-13| accessdate=2007-10-16| publisher=Associated Press]

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