The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the only representative of the Ursidae family in South America, and is also the last living representative of the Tremarctinae subfamily. The species is distributed throughout most of the Andes, being found in humid mountain forests from Venezuela to the border between Argentina and Bolivia, running through countries such as Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. A small population is also believed to exist in Panama and northwest Argentina.
Bears of this species have a massive body with a muscular chest and thoracic limbs that are larger than the pelvic ones. The claws are strong, curved and not retractable. The muzzle is shorter than that seen in the rest of the ursids. They have small, rounded ears and are often recognized by the presence of light spots around the eyes, on the chin, throat and chest, which can vary from white to yellow. Each bear has a unique pattern of spots, and you can tell one individual from another by them.
They are omnivorous animals with a tendency to herbivory, feeding mainly on cacti, bromeliads, palm nuts, bamboos, orchids, fruit and unopened palm leaves, and are also capable of tearing bark off trees in search of insect larvae. Less frequently, they feed on small rodents and birds. Interestingly, during the fruit ripening season (April to June), bear pairs reach their peak reproductive activity, although they can breed at any time of the year. Each couple stays together for two weeks and may mate several times. The cubs (1 to 3 per pregnancy) are born between December and February, after about 7 months of gestation and remain with their mother for about a year until they are ready to feed and survive on their own. Individuals reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 7. The mating and birth periods are the only times when these animals can be seen in groups, as they are typically solitary.Bears of this species are excellent tree climbers and have a habit of building nests to feed and rest in, as well as being exceptional swimmers. They are diurnal, but may also be active at night, and do not usually approach humans unless they feel threatened or there is a mother protecting her cubs.
The importance of this species in the ecosystem is wide-ranging. They are excellent dispersers of a wide variety of seeds and contribute to the development of the understory, as they break through the branches of the upper part of the trees, allowing sunlight to reach the lower strata of vegetation. Tremarctos ornatus are also considered an "umbrella species", meaning that they are excellent indicators of the quality of the environment, and their presence and conservation ensures the survival and prosperity of other living beings within the ecosystem in which they live. Despite this, mainly due to the large-scale invasion of its habitat for agricultural activity and coca plantations, as well as predatory hunting based on popular belief in the medicinal properties of some of its organs, the species is considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its population is decreasing.
Efforts to conserve them have been made all over the world through an international program, most notably in Brazil by the Brasilia Zoo, which has a spectacled bear specimen: Liz.