British ColumbiaPeanut is living in a llama sanctuary in Tappen, B.C., after her mother was attacked by two bears in the middle of the night. Caretakers describe Peanut as sweet, curious and gentleMichelle Gomez · CBC News · Posted: Nov 06, 2025 8:17 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Peanut was orphaned when she was five weeks old after her mother was killed by a bear at a Peachland, B.C., property. (The Llama Sanctuary)A six-week-old llama named Peanut is recovering in a British Columbia sanctuary after her mother was killed by bears on Oct. 27. Two bears attacked Peanut’s mother in the middle of the night on Eva Sim’s property in the Okanagan community of Peachland. Sim said her husband heard the attack and was able to chase the bears away. Peanut was unharmed. “She wouldn’t leave her mom’s side until I carried her away,” said Sim. “I feel heartbroken.” Unable to care for a baby llama without a mother, Sim says she is grateful the Llama Sanctuary in Tappen, B.C. — a community located about 150 kilometres north of Penticton as the crow flies — was able to take her in the next day. Peanut is pictured at the Llama Sanctuary in Tappen, B.C., where she now resides. (The Llama Sanctuary)“She’s a beautiful little baby,” David Chapman of the Llama Sanctuary said. “She got in a terrible situation.” Chapman says Peanut refuses to drink milk. Around one metre tall and weighing about 15 kilograms, he says she is underweight. But the sanctuary is working with a veterinarian on a feeding plan, and have had some success by soaking beet pulp, grass pellets, and alfalfa cubes in milk formula. Peanut is also struggling to make friends at the sanctuary, which is home to 63 llamas. “We’ve tried introducing other llamas to her hoping one of them would want to be her friend, but no one has really stepped up,” said Chapman. Chapman says Peanut loves to meet the other llamas and is still trying to make friends at the sanctuary. (David Chapman)He says she is currently living with a couple of elderly female llamas who allow her to snuggle up next to them. “She’s happy to give kisses,” he said. “She’s very gentle, very sweet.” Despite the challenges, Chapman says they are optimistic about Peanut’s future. He said the sanctuary has asked around to see if anyone has a female llama who has lost a baby, and might consider adopting her. A welcome surprise Peanut’s recent birth was a welcome surprise. Sim and her husband had owned two llamas, Peanut’s parents, to protect the sheep on their farm. “She was precious to the whole neighbourhood,” said Sim of Peanut. “People came here and brought their grandkids to watch her run around.” Peanut’s previous owner, Eva Sim, says she was a curious and sweet baby who had recently learned to run and jump. (David Chapman)She said Peanut had recently started running and jumping and was a curious baby. “She found her legs and with that came more and more curiosity. She’s a very sweet little character.” Sim says she is thankful for the sanctuary and is confident Peanut will be OK. “She’s with other llamas. That’s the most important thing,” said Sim. “We know that she is safe up there.” ABOUT THE AUTHORMichelle Gomez is a writer and reporter at CBC Vancouver. You can contact her at michelle.gomez@cbc.ca. With files from Daybreak Kamloops
Peanut the orphaned baby llama recovering after mother killed by bears
