Spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear, is the only kind of bear in South America . The name comes from the cream-colored marks around the bear’s eyes, which may resemble spectacles or eyeglasses. These marks may extend under the chin and across the throat onto the chest. They may change in shape and color as the bear ages. The marks vary from bear to bear, and some individuals may lack them entirely. The spectacled bear is a medium-sized bear with a thick brown to black coat. An adult measures about 35 to 80 inches (90 to 200 centimeters) long and weighs from 75 to 350 pounds (34 to 160 kilograms). Males are larger than females.
Spectacled bears have massive skulls and relatively short snouts compared with other bears. They have strong jaw muscles that help them to crush and grind such tough, fibrous plants as bamboo, bromeliads, and palms. Spectacled bears also feed on fruits, insects, and other small animals and occasionally on cattle. The bears are excellent climbers and build nests in trees, where they rest and eat their meals.
Spectacled bears primarily live in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia , Colombia , Ecuador , Peru , and Venezuela . They can be found as high as 15,600 feet (4,750 meters) above sea level in Bolivia. They live as low as 650 feet (200 meters) above sea level in Peru, occupying Andean forests and grasslands and even coastal deserts. Unlike most bears, spectacled bears do not enter into a winter sleep. The female spectacled bear gives birth to usually two cubs. The cubs stay with their mother for about one year. In the wild, spectacled bears are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and poaching (illegal hunting).
