ANDEAN

BEAR

TEACHER: ABDON JUVENAL ROSAS SISA

FINAL ENGLISH PROJECT

SENATI
The SOUTH AMERICAN
ANDEAN BEAR
Its importance and
conservation
¿What is the
ecological importance
of the Andean bear?
The Andean bear plays
important ecological roles in
the ecosystems it inhabits.
Due to its vegetarian and
frugivorous habits, it also
actively participates in the
vegetal succession of forests:
when climbing trees, and
because of its great weight
and size, it sometimes
breaks branches, which allows sunlight to enter the
ground and activates the development of seedlings and
young trees, vegetation.
The role of the Andean bear as a predator is low or
almost nil, since it eats meat only sporadically, and in
most cases opportunistic (the proportion of meat
ingested is less than 10 percent); As we said, most of
their diet consists of plants.
Why is it in danger of extinction?

Andean bear populations occupy approximately

260 thousand square kilometers, distributed in
the countries where it is distributed. However,
only 25 percent of this area is under any form of
legal protection. Annually, habitat loss increases
due to extensive agriculture and cattle ranching,
illicit crop plantations, urban growth and road
construction. This, together with the illegal
trafficking of skins, organs and live specimens,
puts the survival of the species at serious risk.

• Map of current distribution of the Andean bear in South

America (shaded area).
 How to conserve the Andean
bear?

1. Generating information about the

species.
2. The clearing of forests must stop.
3. Implement payment for
environmental services programs.
4. Resolve negative interactions
between bears and human
communities.
5. Create awareness programs aimed
at farmers.
6. Create biological corridors that
cover different ecosystems between
established natural areas where
bears are present.
7. Poaching must be eradicated.
Ten facts about the Andean bear:

1. It can be up to 2 m tall and weigh up to 130 kg, with

males being larger than females..

2. It is also known as "spectacled bear" because of the

clear markings that some individuals have around the
eyes.
3. What do pandas have in
common with Andean bears? The
two have a big head compared to the
rest of their body!
4. In addition to plant matter,
they eat insects and rarely, eggs and
animal meat.
5. Many cultures believe that
their claws have medicinal
properties, which is a threat to their
population.
6. Although they may not look
like it, they are very good swimmers
and climbers.
7. They build platforms on top of trees where they take
naps and carry their food to digest.
8. They are solitary but seem to leave messages on trees
for other individuals, signaling with their smells where
they have gone.
 9. They do not hibernate.
10. The young are called cubs. Normally, a female has 2 to 4
offspring per pregnancy.

Members:

❖ FAJARDO CALVAY JORDAN

❖ Esaú arcos: (Mr Arcos)
❖ Marcos Távara Suárez