Spectacled Bear

Tremarctos ornatus

The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), also called the Andean bear, is the only bear native to South America. It lives along the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, with reports from adjacent regions depending on habitat and survey effort. Most are black to dark brown with cream or tan markings around the eyes, muzzle, and chest; the 'spectacles' vary so much that some bears have only small patches. This short-faced bear is agile in trees and eats a largely plant-based diet of bromeliads, fruits, palms, cactus, and crops, along with insects or carrion when available.

Private ownership is not an appropriate context for spectacled bears. Zoos manage them with climbing structures, secluded dens, puzzle feeders, and diets that avoid the obesity common in captive bears. Breeding programs track ancestry because the zoo population is limited, and cub rearing benefits from quiet maternity areas. In the wild, conservation teams use camera traps, genetic sampling, and community reports to understand movements through fragmented mountain forests and dry valleys. Conflict with farmers can arise when bears raid maize or are blamed for livestock losses, so stewardship often combines protected corridors, compensation or prevention programs, and local education rather than simple removal.