Bear Rehab &
Release
Bear release is the
ultimate aim of the rescue program of our conservation project.
Rescued bears need
rehabilitation to learn what to eat in the wild before they can be
liberated, also to grow big enough to avoid attacks by puma.
Bears getting ready for release are kept in isolated areas so
they get accustomed to not having humans around.
Releasing
bears in
Ecuador is an important part of the conservation plan and the bear
reintroduction program is guided by the results of our research into
the bears' needs. Andean
bear populations live in fragmented habitats as the cloud forest is cut
down to make way for agriculture and human settlements. With
their cloud forest corridors blocked by roads, fenced pastures and
villages, bear populations become cut off from one another, which
results in inbreeding. The inbred bears then have low genetic
diversity, which makes them vulnerable to disease. By
liberating rescued bears from other parts of Ecuador, we introduce
variety into the gene pool and increase genetic diversity,
which strengthens the ability of the Andean bear as a species to resist
extinction.
The rehabilitation
process takes anywhere from 6 to 18 months, depending on the age and
size of the rescued cub. Bears must be large enough to not be
attacked by puma or other predators before they can be released.
The bears are offered the foods that they would find in the
wild, firstly chopped up and ready to eat so that they get used to the
taste and smell. Later they learn how to split open the
bamboo, rip the middle out of palms and dig for worms and other insects.
Once a bear is ready for
release we work directly with willing reserves and the
Ecuadorian government in order to find a suitable area and give the
bear the best chance of survival in the wild. We
also try to ensure that its release has no detrimental impacts
on existing bear populations and local communities. Our bear
reintroduction program is
based on IUCN guidelines (1995). At least two of the female
bears we
have released are known to have bred successfully. In the
last few years, we have been releasing bears at Hacienda
Yanahurco and are very grateful to the owners for allowing us
to use this, one of the last great open spaces in Ecuador.
Bear rehabilitation and
liberation is a costly process. Bear rehab costs around $1000
a month. Bear release ideally requires a helicopter, in order
to liberate the bear in a suitably remote area with no scent trail back
to areas populated by humans. A satellite collar to track the
movements of the released bear costs around $6000 including the airtime
needed to monitor the signals. A satellite collar is needed
to monitor the male bears, which cover huge distances. A
radio collar, costing around $500 can be used to monitor released
female bears, who tend to stay in a smaller area of perhaps 1500
hectares. We welcome donations
to help cover the costs of
rehab and liberation for Andean bears.
Please note that orphaned
bear cubs or bears kept in illegal captivity should NEVER be released
into the wild without rehabilitation by experienced professionals.
Small bear cubs will not know what to eat and will be
attacked by predators. Bears accustomed to human contact will
approach people and so will probably be shot as a result.
Finding a
suitable release site is not easy - a huge area is needed for a
successful bear release, especially for male bears. If you
know of a bear which needs to be liberated in Ecuador, get in touch -
we are the organization responsible. For bear liberation in
other countries, ask us for contact details or contact the relevant
Ministry of the Environment.
Andean
Bear Conservation Project: Bear Rehab & Release
The Andean Bear Conservation Project´s bear reintroduction
program rehabilitates and releases orphaned Andean bears
cubs back into the wild. Liberation of rescued bears
reinforces the genetic diversity of local
populations of this endangered species.
