Spectacled Bear
Spectacled Bears are so named after the distinctive markings around their eyes. Facial markings are individual to each bear and remain recognisable as they grow from cubs into adults.
The Spectacled Bear is the only species of bear native to South America, hence they are also known as ‘Andean Bears’, after the Andes Mountains in which they live. Paddington, who came from "deepest, darkest Peru", is probably the most famous Spectacled Bear.
Chester Zoo has an adult pair of Spectacled Bears. They are very easy to tell apart as Sangay, our male bear, is almost twice the size of our pretty female, Franka, who has very characteristic spectacles!
Spectacled Bears are excellent climbers. Here in the Zoo Franka in particular loves to climb, so look out for her in the treetops within their enclosure! Meanwhile, Sangay is more partial to water and you may catch him paddling about near the bottom of the waterfall during the summer.
Spectacled Bears spend a lot of their time foraging. Our resourceful keepers provide Sangay and Franka with several feeds a day in a variety of ways. Providing this kind of environmental and behavioural enrichment encourages our bears to behave as naturally as they would in the wild.
With a decreasing population of fewer than 20,000 individuals left in the wild, still relatively little is known about these elusive bears in comparison to other bear species. Sangay and Franka are part of the European Endangered Species Programme for this species.
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Species Information
Where they live: found in several areas of northern and western South America, including western Venezuela Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Bolivia.
Habitat: Various habitats within the Andes Mountains, including desert-scrub, ‘Paramo’ or high altitude grasslands and lush, misty cloud forests, ranging in elevation from 250 to 4,750 m
Size: Males grow up to 40% larger than females. Head-body length range from 1.2 – 2 metres, shoulder height 70 - 90cm
Weight: Females weigh up to 84kg, males up to about 155kg,
Conservation status: IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
Threats: Habitat fragmentation and destruction caused by livestock farming and logging is a major threat to this species. Spectacled bears are also persecuted by local farmers for killing cattle and destroying maize crops. Habitat fragmentation continues to bring bears and humans into closer proximity, leading to increased human-bear conflict. Though the hunting of spectacled bears is illegal, the species is still poached for its meat, skin, bones, fat and claws, which are all in demand locally. The gall bladders are occasionally marketed, being of value in traditional oriental medicine, and can fetch a high price on the international market