Where does the spectacled bear live?
The spectacled bear, or Andean bear, is native to the Andes Mountains in northern and western South America. It is the only living species of bear native to South America, and the last remaining short-faced bear (subfamily Tremarctinae). It is a mid-sized species of bear. Its fur is overall blackish in colour, from jet black to dark brown and even a reddish hue. It inhabits cloud forests, high-altitude grasslands, dry forests and scrub deserts, typically between 1,900 and 5,000 m, occasionally as low as 250 m.
What does the spectacled bear eat?
Unlike other omnivorous bears, the diet of the spectacled bear is mostly herbivorous. It typically has distinctive beige or ginger-coloured markings across its face and upper chest, which give it its "spectacles" name, though not all have them. The pattern and extent of the pale markings are slightly different on each individual. It mostly eats cactus, bromeliads, palm nuts, bamboo hearts, orchid bulbs and fallen fruit; meat makes up only 5 to 7% of its diet.
Is the spectacled bear endangered?
Yes: the IUCN classifies it as Vulnerable, because of habitat loss. Males are a third larger than females. It is also threatened by poaching, agricultural expansion, illegal mining and conflict over livestock.
All 71 threatened animals ›
