IIECCO Andean Bear Project

It is a critical time to conserve this unique and fascinating species. Andean bears, also known as spectacled bears, are decreasing in number due to pressures such as habitat loss. 

Andean bears live in a variety of mountain habitats across the western side of South America. Located in the La Libertad Region of Peru, Calipuy National Reserve is situated in the Peruvian western Andes, which is characterised by montane shrubland and coastal desert habitats. Little is known about the Andean bear populations in this area and how they utilise these habitats. Consequently, these bear populations have not been officially recognised within the species range designated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Instituto de Investigación en Ecología y Conservación (IIECCO) are assessing Andean bear distribution and habitat use in Calipuy National Reserve in the Peruvian coastal desert. This exciting research will reveal how the bears use this habitat, informing management plans for coastal bear populations and contribute to the Peruvian National Conservation Plan for Andean Bears.

Frequent bear sightings reported by both rangers and local residents, suggest that this Peruvian population of bears may be the southernmost among the western Andean bear populations, and possibly one of the last connections to the central Andean populations. To learn more, the IIECCO team are using trail cameras to reveal the occupancy of bears and their activity patterns.

The information gathered through this study will provide valuable insights into the utilisation of this habitat by the Andean bears. Findings will contribute to the development of specific management plans tailored to the conservation of coastal bear populations, and to the Peruvian Andean Bear National Conservation Plan, specifically towards the accuracy of the distribution of populations, identifying human conflicts, and providing training to authorities.

IIECCO have three main aims for this project:

1. Determine the presence of Andean bears across different environmental and human-influenced gradients. This includes factors such as habitat type, elevation, vegetation density, distance to villages, distance to water and seasonality.

2. Use camera trapping data to describe bear activity patterns.

3. Provide wildlife rangers with training in a camera trapping methodology through a series of workshops and hands-on fieldwork sessions.

NatureSpy has loaned IIECCO Browning Recon Force, NatureSpy Helarctos Solar and NatureSpy Ursus trail cameras and will provide the project with technical camera assistance where needed. These models of camera produce clear videos and photos in extreme environments, so they are great choices for observing bear behaviours. 

Boosting the number of cameras on the ground means that IIECCO can expand their survey efforts, enabling the team to collect a robust dataset for an occupancy analysis of Andean bears in Calipuy National Reserve. This is vital information to inform actions in the Peruvian Andean Bear National Conservation Plan.