Spectacled Bears (aka Andean Bears)
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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.
Informational Links
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The Wild Ones
2 points
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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
Videos of Spectacled Bears
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
News Stories and articles about Spectacled (Andean) Bears
- inca kola news: Have You Seen This Bear?
- Have you seen this bear? Probably not, if you were one of the many thousands of fans caught up in "Knutmania" that swept the planet last year. If you don't know what I'm talking about, here's a link that explains it all.
Born just two months after Knut at a nature park near Verona Italy, this little fellow went largely unnoticed, due in no small part to the maniacal media frenzy surrounding Knut. Incidentally, his name is Tunk, which the dyslexic among you will immediately recognize as "Knut" spelled backwards. Laden with irony and cryptic significance, Umberto Eco himself couldn't have picked a better name... - » Parque de las Leyendas, zoo and ruins …en Perú - Travel Culture History News
- Zoos aren't the nicest places when you really think about it, perhaps that's why so many of them in the developed world have made the transition from places that display caged animals to centres of conservation and breeding. Lima has two zoos, Huachipa and Parque de las Leyendas, with the latter being the most accessible...For some creatures, their captivity and 24hr room service is welcome, the spectacled bears seem perfectly happy to be laid flat out on their backs all day with a constant supply of food.
- 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.
Caption Contest
Caption contest for this wonderful picture. Vote for your favorite caption or add your own. Don't forget to vote for it!
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You woke me up for that?!
2 points
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So? What's your point?
2 points
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What do you mean I'm making a spectacle of myself?
Cabinfeverdavid2 points
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What am I doing? I'm just chilling.
1 point
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What? What?
1 point
Origami Spectacled Bear
How to make an origami Spectacled Bear.
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
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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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naturegirl7 wrote...
Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens links to the appropriate plexos and vote for them.
Posted October 25, 2008
Oosquid wrote...
I'd never heard of Spectacled Bears but thanks to this lens I know a little about them - fascinating! 5 stars.
Posted July 22, 2008
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Splendid lens. 5*s
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Posted July 20, 2008
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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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