State of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in Bolivia

The Andean bear or spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), is widely distributedalong the flanks of the Andes in South America. It is an endemic species to the tropicalAndes. In Bolivia it is present in the departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Chuquisaca,Santa Cruz, Beni and Tarija. The conservation status of the Andean bear has beenevaluated during recent years, and these studies have identified important strongholds forbear conservation as well as areas where threats may affect the viability of wildpopulations. Because there is currently no explicit legal protection for this species inBolivia, the only legal protection afforded is within protected areas. This chapter includesinformation on conservation status, aspects related to geographic distribution, behavior,ecology, population size, threats and possible means of protection.