Witness the hidden world of Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus), the only surviving bear species in South America. Recently, footage from camera collars captured a wild Andean bear in Peru engaging in unique behaviors such as eating soil, courting females, and even cannibalizing a dead cub.
While zoos and sanctuaries provide some insight into these bears’ habits, it is their behavior in the wild that truly informs conservation efforts. With the Andean bear facing threats like illegal poaching, habitat loss, mining activities, and climate change, understanding their natural behavior is crucial for their survival (SN: 4/30/24). Thanks to collars equipped with video cameras, researchers are now gaining valuable insights into these elusive creatures’ lives as reported on December 4th in Ecology and Evolution.
This groundbreaking project has garnered praise from Mauricio Vela-Vargas, a wildlife biologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society in Bogotá, Colombia. He describes it as “wonderful and unique,” providing confirmation for many existing hypotheses about these bears.
Andean bears have long been part of local folklore. In a Quechua village near Cusco, stories of ukukus - mythical half-human half-bear beings who ventured up Peruvian glaciers to bring water to human communities - have captivated generations. Now there is an opportunity to learn more about the real-life counterparts of these legendary creatures.
Date: 2024-12-04 08:00:00
Original Source: www.sciencenews.org