Secret to world’s oldest llama’s longevity

By Ben Barry

Meet the world's oldest llama - 27-year-old Whitetop whose secret to a long life is sleeping until lunch.

The cuddly creature - full name Dove Oaks Whitetop - has become a two-time Guinness World Records titleholder for the oldest llama in captivity and oldest llama in captivity ever.

The snow-coloured llama from Randleman, North Carolina, spends his days patiently playing with seriously ill children at the Victory Junction camp and presiding over other farm animals in the barnyard.

At 27 years and 250 days old he dethroned the great Dalai Llama from Albuquerque.

While llamas are usually known for spitting at people, Whitetop is an exception as he only spits at his fellow animals on the occasion he wants food, staff say.

The Victory Junction team plans to celebrate Whitetop’s record-breaking achievement with a special gathering and bucket of his favorite food - which includes dry, llama feed mixed with senior horse feed and Probios in his special bucket.”

Billie Jo Davis, the barn director at Victory Junction, said: “He’s the llama that you love, he’s just awesome.

"He is so good with our campers that as soon as our camp days start, he just lays down and he doesn't get up until lunch.

"He'll just lay there and he lets kids run up to him and love on him."

Victory Junction is a facility founded by race car driver Kyle Petty and his family in honour of his son Adam.

It provides “life-changing camp experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a medically safe environment, always free of charge” for children with serious illnesses or chronic medical conditions, they say.

Whitetop lives with nine horses, two goats, two rabbits, two donkeys, and one cow.

His pasture mates are two miniature donkeys named Jed and Jethro, and his best friend is Gus-Gus, a miniature highland cow who thinks of him as his grandpa.

“Because they played so much together, Gus-Gus thinks Whitetop is a cow!” said Billie Jo. “He likes to try to jump on him and play with him, and we're like, no, he's old, leave him alone! But Whitetop is just too sweet with them.”

Whitetop is a part of the Animal Adventure Program, which allows children to pet, groom, and take pictures with him.

His absolute favorite thing to do with people is selfies, staff say.

“He's not afraid of anything. He’s so good at his job that he can always be trusted with campers of all abilities. He's just there for them,” said Billie Jo.