YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — The pack llama who went missing in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) in August has been found, according to Yellowstone Llamas.
Joaquin was found on Thursday, Aug. 31. He was spotted near Trout Lake, and YNP rangers got him under their control. He was returned to Yellowstone Llamas owner Susi Hülsmeyer-Sinay.
“Thank you everyone for thinking about Joaquin — sharing, liking, keeping an eye out,” Yellowstone Llamas posted on Instagram. “And thank you to the Yellowstone Rangers for helping us rescue him!”
Hülsmeyer-Sinay said Joaquin had been one of many pack llamas out on a trek near the Lamar Valley’s Cache Creek Trail on Sunday, Aug. 13. The llamas were staked out for the night when a number of bison ran past, spooking Joaquin to the point that he pulled his stake out of the ground and sprinted away.
He was spotted by visitors a few days later near Trout Lake, but he eluded capture until this Thursday; he survived in the park for more than two weeks.
A photo posted to Facebook group Yellowstone Insiders Hub depicts Joaquin being escorted through the park by YNP staffers.
“Perhaps, just like each of us, Joaquin just needed a little alone time in the wilderness to gain some personal perspective and alignment,” a Facebook user commented on the photo.
