THREATS
As very capable climbers , spectacled bears quickly retreat up trees when threatened , unlike their cousins , in Sri Lanka , the sloth bear . This means that they don ’ t tend to have nearly as many confrontations with humans , and have much less need for aggression . Like other bears , they are protective of their young , but not territorial , and very rarely attack humans . When they do , their conflict tends to be with poachers trying to kill them . Over the centuries , spectacled bears have been hunted and captured for trophies , the pet trade , religious and spiritual practices , and for their natural products . The last 500 years or hunting pressure and habitat loss and degradation has put the spectacled bear into vulnerable status , numbered at between 6,000 and 10,000 individuals across its South American range . While illegal , poaching continues , because their body parts are sold at high prices in Asia for use in oriental medicine .
WHY DO THEY MATTER ?
Like their panda cousins , spectacled bears are well adapted to eat fibrous plants , and they go as far as stripping bark from trees to access their nutritious second layer , which is called ‘ cambium .’ This means that in addition to distributing seeds from the fruit they consume , they also create habitat for insects , bacteria , fungi , and flora in and on trees ! This activity increases the biodiversity of their ecosystems .
INTERESTING FACT :
Spectacled bears are incredibly patient ! They are known to climb fruit trees , break branches to create a platform , then sit for days , waiting for the moment when the trees fruit ripens . That ’ s dedication !
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