Only one breed of bear calls the dense jungles of South America home – the Spectacled Bear. These shy creatures are rarely seen and have become listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. Although population data is sketchy, some estimates suggest that fewer than 3,000 spectacled bears may remain in the wild today. The reasons for their disappearance are many – poaching, destruction of their habitat, and being killed by farmers as agricultural pests.
Luckily, a new project focused in the eastern Andes of Peru is taking steps to monitor spectacled bears in order to better assess their situation. With the help of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a total of 30 camera traps have been purchased to survey the area. In addition, three field monitors have been hired to open trails and prepare the terrain for these cameras. Recent habitat surveys have provided critical information - sightings of individuals, footprints, and evidence of tree markings, feeding and sleeping sites - that will aid in placing equipment in the most productive locations.
Current Tracking
A total of seven camera traps are currently installed in the lowlands of Villa Carmen aimed at photographing carnivores and other large mammals - and although bears have not been seen yet, these efforts already show promising results. So far, two species of large carnivores have been photographed in the area, indicating that the cameras are operating properly.
Next steps
The remaining cameras will be installed to cover the area where spectacled bears are expected to migrate. These will be used in conjunction with footprint traps to correlate photos and add information on the size of the animals studied.
The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is pleased to help facilitate the Amazon Conservation Association’s project – and believes in its efforts toward preserving this special species.
