World·Video

Llama chase in Arizona that shut down highway, ends safely

A pair of escaped llamas took police on a wild chase through Sun City, Ariz., that capitvated television audiences and spawned llama-themed memes on social media.

#Llamawatch quickly became trending hashtag

Llamas on the lam

10 years ago
Duration 2:29
News cameras capture the action as a llama goes on the loose in Sun City, Ariz.

A pair of escaped llamas took police on a wild chase through Sun City, Ariz., this afternoon. 

The unruly pair, which were eventually rounded up by police-cum-llama chasers and members of the public using pickup trucks and lassooes, temporarily stopped traffic on a busy interstate. 

The llamas appeared to be on the verge of capture multiple times before being caught, but used last-second evasive manoeuvres to dodge their pursuers.  

The low-speed chase captivated audiences on social media, with #Llamawatch and other variants quickly becoming trending hashtags in North America.

Several major American television networks carried the pursuit, which lasted a little over a half hour, live from helicopter cameras. 

The llamas appeared to be unhurt.