Llama chase captivates the Internet

Around lunchtime Wednesday, two llamas in Arizona decided they’d had enough of living in captivity and made a break for it. And for awhile, at least, they were free. People from all over the country watched via live-stream as they galloped through yards and disrupted traffic, eluding the cops like the Bonnie and Clyde of livestock, before eventually being rounded up.



Not since O.J. Simpson’s white Ford Bronco led a fleet of patrol cars around Los Angeles freeways has there been such a captivating police chase. The llamas' dreams of freedom may have been dashed, but the joy — largely in the form of llama puns — that their escape brought to their computer-tethered human supporters won't soon be forgotten.

The Washington Post put five of its reporters on the story. Entire newsroom staffs stopped what they were doing to watch the breaking news out of Phoenix.

But they couldn't just stand around for long. There were puns to be made, jokes to be tweeted!

Once the llamania had subsided, the Associated Press filled in the details on the dramatic chase. Our four-legged heroes were reportedly part of a group of three llamas that visited an assisted living facility. After an hour of hanging out with the senior citizens at GenCare in Sun City, the two would-be fugitives saw an opening and ran for it. (The third llama is rumored to be a goodie two-shoes.)

The great llama chase that proceded to take place attracted the attention of some high-profile Arizonans, such as Senator John McCain and the Arizona Cardinals.

Even the North American Aerospace Defense Command couldn't resist getting in on the fun.