Spectacled bear  (Tremarctos ornatus)

Habitat destruction and fragmentation have been rife in the area that this bears inhabits and are likely to have been major causes of its decline in numbers (1) (11). In addition, spectacled bears can be persecuted by local farmers who blame them for killing cattle and for destroying maize crops (1) (2) (3). Sadly, habitat fragmentation is bringing bears and humans into greater proximity, leading to increased human-bear conflict (6) (7) (12) (13).

The spectacled bear is also hunted for its meat, skin, fat and claws, which are all in demand locally (1) (3) (9) (11). The gall bladders are occasionally marketed, being of value in traditional oriental medicine, and can fetch a high price on the international market (9). Recent estimates put the price at US$150 for one, which is five times the average monthly wage in Ecuador (11). Mining, road development and oil exploration are also increasing threats to the spectacled bear’s habitat (1).

Protection of the spectacled bear is nominal in much of its range; it is legally protected but the enforcement is under-funded (1) (11). International trade is banned by the listing of this bear on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (4). There are a number of national parks that contain spectacled bears, but these often vast areas are massively understaffed and therefore ineffective for their conservation (1) (11). Kölner Zoo in Germany (14) coordinates the International Studbook for this species, and a captive breeding programme is also underway in Venezuela (11).

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has led the development of a regional conservation strategy for the species in the Northern Andes (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru), with the support of other international organisations and local NGOs from the region (5). The Andean Bear Conservation Project of Ecuador also directs a program of reintroduction into the wild for spectacled bears that have been rescued from hunters or kept in captivity (15), while in Venezuela the AndígenA Foundation is carrying out a series of environmental education and research projects for spectacled bear conservation in the Venezuelan Andes, and advising conservation initiatives in other countries within the range of this charismatic bear (16).