Spectacled Bear

The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the only surviving bear native to South America. It is also known as the Andean bear. It gets its name from the distinctive light colouring on its chest, neck, and face, which can resemble eyeglasses.

Size: Spectacled bears are small, reaching between 5 and 6 feet in height. Adult males usually weigh between 250 and 450 lbs, while females weigh between 75 and 180 lbs.

Life Span: The average lifespan of the spectacled bear in captivity is 25 years.

Color: The fur of spectacled bears is black, brown, or reddish, and long. The yellowish rings around their eyes, resemble eyeglasses, which gives them their name, but may also be found on their necks and chests.

Continent: South America

Range: Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina

Habitat: Preferring the isolated cloud forests on the slopes of the Andes, spectacled bears have been known to search for food in the lower steppe lands, rain forests, and even coastal deserts.

Food: Though they are known to eat meat in small amounts, spectacled bears are primarily vegetarian, primarily eating fruit, berries, and honey.

Reproduction: Spectacled bears are solitary animals by nature, and once they mature are seen together only during their mating season. Most often, females birth one or two cubs. The cubs are very small and must rely on their mothers for everything.  They remain with their mother for up to eight months.

Fun Facts: Spectacled bears are excellent climbers, and survive by their ability to climb even the tallest of trees. Spectacled bears’ face, neck, and chest markings are completely unique, just like human finger prints.

Conservation: Spectacled bears are endangered, facing threats from hunters who believe they will eat thier livestock and from poachers who get high prices for their gall bladders in the Chinese medicine trade. They also suffer from loss of habitat, due to extensive logging and increased farming.