World's Oldest Llama Spends Days Comforting Chronically Ill Children: 'He's There for Them'

Mar. 15, 2025

Whitetop, the Guinness-declared world’s oldest llama in captivity, at the Victory Junction camp.Photo:Victory Junction via AP

Victory Junction via AP

A llama that has been spending time with chronically ill children in North Carolina for nearly two decades has just etched his name into the llama history books — or at least some future world-record books.

Born on Dove Oaks Farm in May 1997, Whitetop was donated to the camp in February 2006 and he’s since become a fixture for those looking for a selfie, or even just a four-legged pal.

As for Whitetop’s role, Victory Junction’s barn director Billie Jo Davis said the elder llama is simply “the llama that you love.”

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“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,” Davis told Guinness.

“He treats it like a job — it is his job!”

Whitetop spends time with children at Victory Junction in North Carolina.Victory Junction via AP

Playing with Whitetop, Davis explained in anInstagram clip, can provide “sensory input” for campers who need it. The location serves kids with cancer, genetic disorders, burn survivors, heart disease and more, per itswebsite.

Victory Junction offers campers a chance to enjoy rock climbing, boating, arts and crafts, a water park, race track and — of course — some time with animals on its 84-acre property. Whitetop resides in the barnyard with nine horses, two goats, two rabbits, two donkeys and one cow, per Guinness. Davis adds that the llama is “too sweet” to his fellow animals, including miniature highland cow Gus-Gus.

As part of its Animal Adventure Program, Whitetop spends time with kids — getting pets and getting groomed — between 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., as well as later in the day between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. He rarely spits, too, but has still found his face on a limited-edition t-shirt featuring the phrase “Still Spit’n," with proceeds going toward the camp.

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

In celebration of his long life, Victory Junction is expected to throw Whitetop a party on site, featuring his favorite food: A bucket of llama feed mixed with senior horse feed and dry Probios.

According to theAssociated Press, which cites the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, the average llama lifespan is 15 years — which Whitetop has nearly doubled at this point.

Stephanie Wilkerson, who initially attended the camp’s family weekend in 2006 after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, told the outlet that spending time with Whitetop made her feel “more relaxed.”

“He really gets to help campers come out of their shell when they interact with him,” Davis told the AP.

“He can be kind of intimidating at first, but once they come over to him and love on him and pet on him, they just realize how sweet he is.”

source: people.com