Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) or “Andean” is common in the Northern Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. It is the only bear species found in South America. The spectacled bear is the closest relative of the short-faced bears that lived in the Middle Late Pleistocene.
Description of the Andean bear
These are small bears from the Ursidae family. Males are 33% larger than females, they are 1.5 meters tall and weigh up to 154 kg. Females rarely weigh more than 82 kg.
Spectacled bears are named because of the large white circles or semicircles of white fur around the eyes, giving them the appearance of “bespectacled”. Shaggy body coat is black with beige, sometimes red markings on the muzzle and upper chest. Due to the warm climate in which bears live and because they do not hibernate, the fur is rather thin. All other types of bears have 14 pairs of ribs, while spectacled bears have 13.
Animals have long, curved, sharp claws, which they use for climbing, digging up anthills and termite mounds. The front legs are longer than the hind legs, which makes it easier to climb trees. Bears have strong jaws and broad, flat molars, which the animals use to chew on tough vegetation such as tree bark.
Where do spectacled bears live?
They inhabit tropical and alpine meadows, live in lush mountain forests that cover the slopes of the Andean mountains. Bears are plentiful on the eastern side of the Andes, where they are less vulnerable to human colonization. Bears descend from the mountains in search of food in coastal deserts and steppes.
What do Andean bears eat?
They are omnivores. They gather ripe fruits, berries, cacti and honey in the forests. During periods when ripe fruits are not available, they eat bamboo, corn, and epiphytes, plants that grow on bromeliads. From time to time they supplement their diet with insects, rodents and birds, but this is only about 7% of their diet.
Spectacled bear lifestyle
Animals are nocturnal and active at dusk. During the day, they take refuge in caves, under tree roots or on tree trunks. They are arboreal creatures that spend a lot of time looking for food in the trees. Their survival depends largely on their ability to climb the highest Andes forests.
On trees, bears build feeding platforms from broken branches and use them to get food.
Spectacled bears are not territorial animals, but do not live in groups to avoid competition for food. If they encounter another bear or human, they react cautiously but aggressively if they feel threatened or if the cubs are in danger.
Single animals are seen in pairs only during the mating season. Bears tend to be quiet. Only when they encounter a relative do they give a voice.
How do they reproduce and how long do they live?
Tropical bears breed all year round, but mostly from April to June. They reach maturity and produce offspring between the ages of 4 and 7.
The female gives birth to 1-2 cubs every 2-3 years. Pregnancy lasts 6 to 7 months. Couples stay together for several weeks after mating. The female is planning a pregnancy, making sure that birth takes place about 90 days before the peak of the fruit season, when food supplies are sufficient. If there is not enough food, the embryos are absorbed into the mother’s body, and she will not give birth this year.
The female builds a den before giving birth. Cubs weigh 300-500 grams at birth and are helpless, their eyes closed during the first month of life. The cubs live with their mother for 2 years, ride on her back, before being driven away by adult males seeking to mate with the female.
The spectacled bear has a lifespan of 25 years in nature and 35 years in captivity.
