Camelids rest with their legs folded underneath their body. They can stay in this position for a length of time {how long? }. Sometimes they stretch one or two legs in front of them, or bend one of their front legs.
Kushing is a vulnerable position, as it takes time and effort to stand up. {add video}
Llamas have sweat glads distributed through out the surface of their skin. Though the underbelly, ventrum, where there is little to no hair coverage, has a denser distribution of sweat glands (Fowler, 257) and act as a thermal window. The llamas make use of this, by elevating the underbelly from the ground, using their back legs. This allows the airflow to evaporate the sweat and cooling them.
These three examples of the cooling kush were taken in March 2024, on an exceptionally warm day for the season. They are coming out of the winter with their full fibre on and shearing is still 2 months away.
Is this an intentional cooling kush? On warm morning late March 2024.
When Pepper kush down in this spot her movements looked strained, as if she was carefully positioning herself. Which made me question why? And why there as she could have comfortable kushed somewhere else. When I walked around I saw how her back legs are carefully placed on the rock. The rock would be cool after a night of -4 C and she might be warm as the sun was full on this late March morning. Is she intentionally using the rock to cool her?
Works Cited:
Fowler, E. Murray. Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids. 2nd ed., Iowa State University Press, 1998.
