Do bears live in the Andes Mountains?
Andean bears are South America’s only bears and live in the Andes and outlying mountain ranges, from western Venezuela south to Bolivia. A few have been reported from eastern Panama and extreme northern Argentina. Andean bears live in a variety of mountain habitats.
Are Andean bears dangerous?
Although spectacled bears are naturally non-aggressive, calm and submissive, they do attack for self-defense and mainly for protecting their young.
How many Andean bears are left?
There are believed to be fewer than 10,000 of these bears left across the northern Andes. Listed as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature red list, they face an increasingly uncertain future due to habitat destruction and hunting.
Does South America have bears?
There is only one bear species from South America – the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus). Sometimes called the spectacled bear due to its cream-colored facial markings that can look like eyeglasses, these bears are found in parts of southern Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and northern Argentina.
Will bears eat dogs?
While a black bear is capable of seriously maiming or killing a dog or human, s/he is more likely to run up a tree, or to run her cubs up a tree, to avoid an encounter. Grizzlies are more likely to stand their ground and defend themselves; they are not good climbers.
Where do Andean bears live in South America?
Why are the Andean bears at the National Zoo?
By protecting Andean bear habitat, conservationists hope to protect these and many other animals, such as the Andean coati, mountain tapir, jaguar and Andean condor. Support organizations like the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute that research better ways to protect and care for this animal and other endangered species.
Which is the largest bear in South America?
The spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear, is unique for its distinctive facial markings and docile behavior. A close-up of the markings of an Andean (spectacled) bear. The spectacled bear, also referred to as the Andean bear or the Andean short-faced bear, is the largest land mammal in South America.
How many animals live in the Andes Mountains?
Of the 600 species of mammals living in the region, 13% are endemic in nature. 45% of the 600 species of reptiles living here are also endemic. The mountains also serve as the home of about 1,700 species of birds and 400 species of fish of which nearly one-third are endemic.