Spectacled (aka Andean Bears) -- Here's looking at ya!
I love Spectacled Bears and wanted to share what I found out about these wonderful bears with you. Here you'll find facts, photos, videos, organizations working to save them and other important links.
I will continue to research these bears and post what I find here so come back often.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Tremarctos
Gervais, 1855
Species: T. ornatus
Binomial name
Tremarctos ornatus
(Cuvier, 1825)
From Wikipedia
Where Spectacled or Andean Bears Live
Spectacled bears or Andean bears are only found in South America (see map) specifically in Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.They are found in all of the different forests: rain forests, what are called cloud forests and dry forests as well as in coastal scrub desert -- anywhere the Bromeliaceae family of plants (their favorite food) are found, you find these bears.
Facts About Spectacled Bears
FeaturesThese bears are small and get their name -- Spectacled Bears -- from the distinctive creamy-white markings around their eyes, which look like glasses. They usually have some creamy-white on their throats and chests as well.
Size
These are small bears with the males weighing between 220 and 340 pounds and the females between 140 and 180 pounds. They are 60 to 72 inches long.
Diet
They eat a variety of food from mice and rabbits to fruit and grasses. Their favorite food are plant leaves, bases and hearts from the Bromeliaceae family of plants.
Photo Slide Show
My favorite Andean bear photos are by ucumari on Flickr. These are just a few. Click ucumari to see her complete Andean bear set.
What does an Andean bear look like without fur?
Naked bear
For more photos, click Spectacled Bears
With winter coming, the bear's coats usually thicken for the colder temperatures. Hopefully the zoo will provide more heat for this this winter.
Photo: Picture Allianace/DPAPhotoshot
Informational Links
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The Wild Ones
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Spectacled Bear
1 point
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Bears-of-the-world
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Animal Diversity
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Tunk, The Little Spectacled Bear In Germany
Tunk, which is Knut spelled backwards was the little Spectacled Bear born in Feb 2007 just as Knut, the polar bear cub, was gaining fame.While Knut was taking the limelight, little Tunk was pretty much in the dark. Most people have never even heard of him.
Unlike Knut, who's mother abandoned him at birth, little Tunk's mother was a good one and he shared his area with her.
Tunk is a cutie -- see the pictures throughout this lens to see just how cute he is!
Tunk Playing With Mom
Books On Spectacled Bears
Here are some great books on Spectacled Bears. Let people know which you think are the best by voting for your favorite book. It's okay to vote for more than 1. And, you can add a another one from Amazon or take a copy of this list. If you add one, don't forget to vote for it!
1
Rescuing the Spectacled Bear by Stephen Fry
Both wildly funny and moving -- a journal of Steph more...1 point
2
Any Bear Can Wear Glasses: The Spectacled Bear & Other Curious Creatures by Matthew Long, Thomas Long
Any bear can wear glasses? Any swan can play an in more...1 point
4
Bear Rescue (Wildlife Tales) by Maria Rosado
Eliza and her family are helping rescue three spe more...1 point
5
Rescuing the Spectacled Bear [
A true story of trying to save spectacled bears
RESCUING THE SPECTACLED BEAR
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
The book has lots of great photos and a touching and somewhat gritty story of trying to beat the red tape back to save some spectacled bears from a terrible life. It would make a wonderful 'read to me' book to introduce children to the spectacled bear and conservation.
Other Books about Spectacled Bears on Amazon
Read about Spectacled Bears
Chito and Rita the Spectacled Bears
Amazon Price: $1.99 (as of 12/22/2009)
Spectacled Bear, Female, Colombia Photographic Poster Print by Patricio Robles Gil, 64x48
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Bear Rescue! (Wild Thornberrys Wildlife Tales, 2)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/22/2009)
Caption Contest
Caption contest for this wonderful picture. Vote for your favorite caption or add your own. Don't forget to vote for it!
1
You woke me up for that?!
2 points
2
So? What's your point?
2 points
3
What do you mean I'm making a spectacle of myself?
Cabinfeverdavid2 points
4
What am I doing? I'm just chilling.
1 point
5
What? What?
1 point
News Stories and articles about Spectacled (Andean) Bears
- Spectacled Bear Debuts at the Zoo - National Zoo
- In early February, a three-year-old female spectacled bear made her debut at the Zoo. Weighing about 125 pounds and still growing, she is quite agile, climbing high in the structures in her yard, located near Amazonia. Visitors may see her every day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Nikki the Bear Lost 110 Pounds on the National Zoo Diet
- Luckily, the National Zoo is one of a handful of zoos with an animal nutrition team. After assessing the situation, nutritionist Karen Lisi came up with a step-by-step diet plan to help Nikki shed the pounds within a year
- Spectacled Bear Update: Breeding and Nest Building - National Zoo|
- We were pleasantly surprised, when Billie Jean, a female spectacled bear who arrived at the Zoo a few months ago, came into heat on Father's Day. Nikki, a male spectacled bear, was extremely interested in and persistent with breeding her.
- National Zoo Bear Loses 110 Pounds
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - One of the main attractions at the National Zoo just got a little smaller. The zoo's 17-year-old spectacled bear arrived at the zoo dangerously obese. Two and half years later, he's thinner, has a girlfriend and there could even be a baby on the way.
- the paw of an andean spectacled bear
- The Oso Antiojos - Andean Spectacled Bear - is by some estimates the rarest bear in the world, more so than the Panda, with numbers betwe 1,000 and 2,000. During my time in Bolivia, I spent a day in the cloud forest way above the Yungas. What transpired was extraordinary and will remain with me for the rest of my life.
I walked with a bear. - San Diego Zoo Blogs » Blog Archive » Dry-forest Bears of Peru
- The San Diego Zoo has two researchers studying bear habitat in Peru.
- Bear Dies at the Binghamton Zoo
- This has been a difficult week for staff at the Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park. Two of its popular animals died from totally unrelated causes. According to Executive Director Mike Janis, "It is very rare to lose an animal at the Zoo, but to lose two within a few days period is almost unheard of".
- Natural Wonders ? The Spectacled Bear (Andean Bear) | Latin Lounge
- The Spectacled Bear (Andean Bear) is the only bear found in South America
Spectacled Bear Gifts On Amazon
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Spectacled Bear Female, Cerro Chaparri, Peru Photographic Poster Print by Mark Jones, 16x12
AllPosters.com is the world's #1 seller of posters more...1 point
2
Cuddlekins 12in Plush Spectacled Bear
These stuffed animals have realistically adorable more...1 point
Fun Spectacled Bear stuff on CafePress
Show your love for the bears!
Spec Bears Greeting Cards (Pk of 10)
Price: 16.00
peeking Framed Tile
Price: 10.00
Spectacled Bear Small Poster
Price: 16.99
Spectacled Bear Tote Bag
Price: 16.99
Rizzer Magnet
Price: 5.99
Origami Spectacled Bear
How to make an origami Spectacled Bear.
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Sloth Bears are one of the 8 species of bears worldwide. When I first heard the term Sloth Bear, I immediately thought of Three-toed Sloths. They are not related, however, they were originally classified as "Bear Sloths" because of their Sloth-like c...
Member of Save Our Bears (SOB)
Save Our Bears is a group of lenses devoted to help change the plight all of the 8 bear species through awareness and fund raising.The lenses show the wonderful nature of bears and many will, at the same time, shine a spotlight on the dangers bears face including: trophy hunters, gall bladder and bile farming, pollution, bear baiting, global warming, and habitat destruction.
You'll also find fun lenses on great polar bear movies, books, teddy bears, even cartoon and toy bears.
Click Save Our Bears (SOB) to go to the group page.
Tunk Riding Mom
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Reply
- stargazer00 stargazer00 Nov 5, 2009 @ 9:27 pm
- The Spectacled Bears are beautiful!
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- naturegirl7 naturegirl7 Oct 25, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
- Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens links to the appropriate plexos and vote for them.
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Reply
- Oosquid Oosquid Jul 22, 2008 @ 2:02 am
- I'd never heard of Spectacled Bears but thanks to this lens I know a little about them - fascinating! 5 stars.
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Reply
- chefkeem chefkeem Jul 20, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
- Splendid lens. 5*s
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Bearmeister aka Frankster
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A woman has to know her limitations. Ha. Wouldn't that be nice? This lens is my attempt at explaining just who I am and what I'm up to and maybe justify to myself why I'm so darn busy - LOL. It's a Lensography of my Squidoo BEAR lenses and will incl...
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I'm known as Cat Woman off-line because I share my home with a bunch of cats; I rescue and foster cats (ferals, FIV positive, abandoned); I work with a local animal non-profit; and I sculpt big cats. Online, I'm known as Cat Woman because of my blog,...
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