Bear Conservation
Bear conservation: Andean
bears are an endangered species listed by the IUCN Red List as vulnerable to
extinction and there are
thought to be fewer than 20,000 wild Andean or spectacled bears.
In order to save the bears, we work in several
different aspects of bear conservation.
Bear Rescue is
unfortunately necessary when local people illegally take bears into
captivity - usually cubs orphaned when their mothers are shot.
By rescuing these bear cubs we not only save them from a life
of captivity but also return them to the breeding population in the
wild to help with conservation of the species as a whole.
Find out more about Andean
bear rescue.
Bear Rehab & Release
- when possible we rehabilitate and liberate rescued Andean bears so
that they can go on to breed and strengthen the genetic diversity of
this endangered bear species.
Find
out
more about the rehabilitation
and release of Andean bears.
Human-Bear Conflict
- humans and Andean bears are increasingly coming into contact and
conflict as humans fell the cloud forests for agriculture.
Livestock depredation also causes conflict in some areas.
Learn more about human-bear
conflict with Andean bears
Bear Sanctuary - we
rehabilitate and release rescued Andean bears when possible, but not
all are suitable for this process so we are creating a Bear
Sanctuary in which to care for and study bears too old, ill or
disabled to liberate. It's also a temporary home for Andean
bear cubs in rehab.
Find out more about our Iznachi
Andean
Bear Sanctuary.
Zoo Bears - there
are wildlife parks and zoo bear exhibits around the world where
spectacled bears are on display, and some of them participate in the
Species Survival Plan, breeding bears to maintain a captive population.
Find your nearest Zoo
Bears.
Andean
Bear Conservation Project: Bear Conservation
Conservation of Andean bears, also known as
spectacled bears or Tremarctos
ornatus, includes research, rescue and release, habitat
conservation and community involvement in bear country areas.
The Andean Bear Conservation Project would also like to
create an Andean bear sanctuary.
