spectacled bear diet

The Andean bear of South America is also known as the spectacled bear for the rings of white or light fur around its eyes, which can look like eyeglasses (or spectacles) against the rest of the bear’s black or dark brown fur. The gall bladders are highly sought after for medicinal purposes and despite the ban on trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) the bears are still being killed illegally. These markings may also be present around the eyes, which is the reason. are their primary diet. They generally live in forested areas but can also be found in more open scrub land. Only 5-7% of their diet consists of meat. When ripe fruit is not available, bears live off fibrous parts of plants such as bromeliad hearts, soft parts of palms, orchid bulbs and even tree bark. Hunting is one of the major causes of the population reduction of this species. However, the markings are individual to each bear; some have very faint markings, perhaps only on one side of the face, and some have plain black faces with no spectacle markings at all. Like all bears, Spectacled Bears have a highly developed sense of smell. Spectacled Bears are very good climbers and sometimes build platforms in trees by pulling down branches and lianas to form a flat area on which they may feed and rest. In areas where cornfields have replaced the natural forest, bears have got a taste for maize, and are now a problem for farmers: who sometimes shoot the bears to stop them feeding on their crops. In the most productive areas of the Northern Andes, property is concentrated in the hands of a few, which means that the poorest inhabitants are forced to occupy the limited land available on the fragile hillsides of mountains inhabited by the Spectacled Bear. They will also peel back tree bark to eat the nutritious second layer. Nutrition: Spectacled Bears are more herbivorous than other bears, as only about 5 to 7% of their diet is meat. Current land use patterns include the felling of trees, land clearing, and extraction of timber and firewood for farms in the higher mountainous areas. The Spectacled Bear, or Andean Bear, is a relatively small black or dark brown bear and is the only bear found in South America. Before spectacled bear populations became fragmented during the last 500 years, the species had a reputation for being adaptable, as it is found in a wide variety of habitats and altitudes throughout its range, including cloud forests, high-altitude grasslands, dry forests, and scrub deserts. The cubs often stay with mother for one year before going out on their o. wn and then becoming parents themselves after about 4 to 7 years. The best habitats for spectacled bears, now, are humid forests. The species is found almost entirely in the Andes Mountains. Spectacled Bears are robust, with a short, muscular neck and short but strong legs. Spectacled Bears are active during the day and are very opportunistic; their diet and behaviour depends on their local habitat. These markings often extend down the chest, giving each bear a unique appearance and helping researchers identify each bear by its "mug shot". The bears are hunted by locals due to a belief that they will eat livestock, their gall bladders are also valued in traditional Chinese medicine and can fetch a high price on the international market, and, extensive logging and farming has led to habitat loss. Sometimes they also prey upon large birds like pigeons, etc. The Spectacled Bear is the only species of bear in South America and one of the most emblematic mammals of the tropical Andes. Although spectacled bears are solitary and tend to isolate themselves from one another to avoid competition, they are not territorial. The gestation period is 5.5 to 8.5 months. The most common foods for these bears include cacti, bromeliads, palm nuts, bamboo hearts, orchid bulbs, fallen fruit on the forest floor, berries, honey, and unopened palm leaves. Their fur is usually black, although it can have dark red-brown tones on the upper-parts. are generally active during daytime, shy, and elusive, avoiding contact with humans. Among the smallest of the bears, they average 5-6 feet tall and up to 350 lbs. Contents 1 Naming and etymology 2 Behavior and diet 3 Conservation 4 They feed high up in trees as well as on plants growing on the ground. They are generally solitary animals and leave messages for other bears by rubbing their backs against the tree trunks, leaving scratch marks with their claws, and perhaps urinating or leaving a hormonal secretion around the scratched area. Many of these threats can be largely attributed to the inequity in land tenure. Spectacled Bears are also hunted for parts used in the wildlife trade. Insects like caterpillars, worms, beetles, etc. As little as 5% of the original habitat in Andean cloud forest remains today. Spectacled Bears sometimes have white to pale yellow markings around the muzzle, on the neck and the chest. There is also a large market for bear paws, with one paw bringing in between US$10 and US$20. A spectacled bear eating a pumpkin. As enough food is available all year round, Spectacled Bears do not hibernate. The species is commonly known as the Spectacled Bear since they often have distinctive white or brown markings encircling their eyes, resembling spectacles. As the only bear that comes from Peru, the Spectacled Bear is also clearly the original of Paddington, the fictional bear and hero of Michael Bond’s many famous children’s books. Better to see you with! Spectacled Bear Facts & Tidbits. are also in their diet list. That is to say that only 5% of its diet consists of meat. The bears usually give birth to one or two cubs between December and February and cubs probably stay with the female for around a year. The spectacled bear eats palm leaves, orchid bulbs, bromeliads, palm nuts, cactus, fallen fruits, … Loss and fragmentation of the species habitat is due to the construction of roads, the destruction of forests for illicit crops, and the use of grazing areas for cattle farming. It is calculated that around 200 bears are hunted down each year in the region. Local inhabitants kill bears for diverse reasons, including subsistence hunting, protection against attacks to livestock and crops (especially maize) and fear of the animal due to cultural reasons. Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. Spectacled Bear numbers have fallen sharply as a result of habitat fragmentation and hunting. Spectacled Bears are active during the day and are very opportunistic; their diet and behaviour depends on their local habitat. in a small den and the mother waits until the cubs can see and walk before she leaves with them. Spectacled owl diet. The most common foods for these bears include cacti, bromeliads, palm nuts, bamboo hearts, orchid bulbs, fallen fruit on the forest floor, berries, honey, and unopened palm leaves.

Where Is Halite Found, Danner Mountain Light Insole, Pontypool Fire 2020, Demaryius Thomas Retire, How To List Credentials After Name On Business Card, Is Caddie Woodlawn A Real Person, ,Sitemap