The spectacled bear is found in forests in the Andes mountains of South America. Romi introduces us to this interesting-looking bear …
About the spectacled bear:
- The scientific name of the spectacled bear (or Andean bear) is Tremarctos ornatus.
- It is the only bear species found in South America and it lives in the tropical Andes.
- Spectacled bears are named for the markings around their eyes that look a bit like spectacles (eyeglasses or glasses).
- The book character Paddington Bear is a spectacled bear.
- Spectacled bears live in humid, montane forests. Montane means found on mountains.
- The spectacled bear’s range has shrunk due to poaching and habitat destruction from forestry and agriculture.
- Spectacled bears are carnivores, but only 5% of their diet is composed of meat!
- They like to eat mostly berries, bromeliads (a type of plant), sugarcane, honey, and corn.
- They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
To learn more about spectacled bears, click on these Mongabay links:
Photos: South America’s adorable Andean bear
Videos: spectacled bear’s home in the dry forests of Peru revealed
Featured video: bears work together to take down camera traps
Original Candid Animal Cam story on Mongabay:
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/03/what-is-a-spectacled-bear-candid-animal-cam-takes-us-to-the-andes/
En Español:
Lee más aquí:
https://es.mongabay.com/2020/03/candid-animal-cam-oso-de-anteojos-episodio-2-video/
Romi says:
Special thanks to WWF-Peru for sharing this footage with us, and to the San Miguelito Jaguar Conservation Ranch for additional footage.
