The sighting of a young male Andean bear (or spectacled bear) in its habitat, the Chilí-Barragán biological corridor in the Bugalagrande River basin, captured by camera traps from the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Valle del Cauca (CVC) in recent days, demonstrated that 10 years of work carried out by the public-private alliance Conservamos la Vida for its protection are yielding results.
To the list of achievements must be added the increase in the presence of this bear species, one of the most emblematic animals of the Andes, in the Western and Central mountain ranges, the protection and restoration of strategic ecosystems, the absence of reports of attacks on domestic animals, and 90 conservation agreements. The results of a decade of work and what is coming for this process were presented in Bogotá at the headquarters of Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia.
Protecting the spectacled bear is protecting biodiversity
The movements of the spectacled bear through forests help maintain natural balance and contribute to the regeneration of flora and the conservation of ecosystems essential for water and biodiversity. “Protecting the Andean bear is not only about conserving an emblematic species. It is about protecting the páramos, forests, and water sources on which millions of people depend,” warned Marco Antonio Suárez Gutiérrez, director of the CVC.
Among the main results, an increase in the presence of the Andean bear in prioritized landscapes stands out, rising from 52% to 76% occupancy in the Western Cordillera and reaching 61% in the Central Cordillera. Likewise, it has enabled the protection and restoration of strategic ecosystems, strengthening connectivity between high Andean forests and páramos that are key for the species.
Suárez Gutiérrez also reported that community-based and scientific monitoring of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), and of other conservation targets, has been strengthened. As a result of this work, one of the 240 cameras in the Otus network in Valle del Cauca recorded the individual.
Regarding this, the director of Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, Luis Olmedo, emphasized: “The presence of the Andean bear in our protected areas is a very important indicator of their health. We know that if we protect this species, we will contribute to maintaining the integrity of the ecosystems in which it lives and the environmental services that benefit Colombians.”
Andean bear, the only bear species in South America
The public-private alliance Conservamos la Vida, which includes the CVC, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, Fundación Grupo Argos, WCS, and Fundación Smurfit Westrock Colombia, has also consolidated a successful model of coexistence between rural communities and wildlife, reflected in the absence of reports of attacks on domestic animals in the areas where it operates, demonstrating that it is possible to harmonize productive activities and conservation.
To date, 90 voluntary conservation agreements have been signed with rural communities, promoting sustainable territories and strengthening local leadership. In addition, 15 educational institutions have actively participated in environmental education processes, involving around 1,900 students and 181 teachers.
The Andean bear is the only bear species in South America and one of the most iconic large mammals of mountain ecosystems. It inhabits Andean forests and páramos from Venezuela to Bolivia, and plays a key role as a seed disperser and ecological regulator, making it a fundamental species for the health and resilience of these territories.
In Colombia, its presence is closely linked to the conservation of water sources and strategic areas for biodiversity and human communities. However, it faces threats such as habitat loss and fragmentation and conflicts with productive activities. Protecting the Andean bear not only means conserving a species, but also safeguarding the ecosystems on which millions of people depend.