Wildlife appeal · Colombia
Save the Andean bear
Shy and seldom seen, the spectacled bear is South America's only bear — and its cloud-forest home is being cleared around it.
In brief
The Andean (spectacled) bear is South America's only bear — Vulnerable with roughly 18,000 left, losing cloud-forest habitat to farming and roads. UK supporters can fund rescue, rehabilitation and human-wildlife coexistence through WARN partners in Colombia, its in-network focus.
Only
Bear native to South America
~18,000
Estimated left in the wild (IUCN)
Vulnerable
IUCN Red List status
1
WARN in-network country: Colombia
The spectacled bear ranges through Colombia's Andean cloud forests — yet most people never realise it is real. WARN funds partner protection and coexistence in Colombia. See also the jaguar appeal, Colombia wildlife briefing and parrot rescue guide.
What threats do Andean bears face?
Cloud-forest loss
Andean cloud forests are cleared for farming, cattle and roads, breaking the bear's range into fragments. Spectacled bears depend on these misty forests for food and shelter — they are shy and seldom seen even where they persist.
Vulnerable — populations decreasing (IUCN)
Human–bear conflict
As habitat shrinks, bears wander into farmland searching for maize, fruit and livestock. Conflict with farmers over crops can turn deadly — for bears and occasionally for people.
Conflict is a leading cause of bear mortality near forest edges
Orphaned cubs
When a mother is killed in conflict or poaching, cubs rarely survive alone. Partner centres can rehabilitate orphans for release — but need specialist facilities and post-release monitoring.
Cub rehabilitation requires minimal human imprinting
Poaching & trafficking
Bears are killed for their gall bladders, meat and skins — and cubs are taken for the illegal pet trade. Enforcement gaps persist despite legal protection.
Andean bear CITES Appendix I
Climate change
Warming temperatures push cloud-forest habitat upslope, reducing the area available and isolating populations on mountain ridges.
Cloud-forest species among most climate-vulnerable
Andean bear in Colombia's wildlife landscape
| Attribute | Andean (spectacled) bear | Jaguar | Giant otter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Bear — only species in South America | Big cat — apex predator | Mustelid — river specialist |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable | Near Threatened | Endangered |
| Habitat | Andean cloud forest & páramo | Amazon & Pantanal forest | Amazon rivers |
| WARN network | Colombia ✓ | Brazil & Colombia ✓ | Brazil ✓ |
| Main threat | Habitat loss & conflict | Deforestation & conflict | Mining & hunting |
Quick Andean bear facts
| Other name | Spectacled bear — pale markings around the eyes |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Tremarctos ornatus |
| Range | Andes of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela |
| Diet | Mainly herbivorous — fruit, bromeliads, occasional meat |
| WARN focus | Colombia — cloud-forest protection and coexistence |
| Pop culture | Inspiration for a famous storybook bear — but real and threatened |
| CITES | Appendix I |
| What WARN does not fund | Contact tourism or unlicensed captive facilities |
What does WARN fund?
Cloud-forest protection, coexistence and rescue — see spectacled bear guide and habitat protection appeal.
Focus 1
Cloud-Forest Protection
Partner work protecting and reconnecting Andean cloud forest the bear depends on.
Focus 2
Human–Bear Coexistence
Projects preventing conflict between bears and farmers over crops and livestock.
Focus 3
Rescue & Rehab
Care for orphaned and confiscated bears, with release where possible.
Focus 4
Community Education
Local education turning the bear from perceived pest into source of pride.
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WARN is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation, not a charity, so it cannot claim Gift Aid. The donation case is transparency: low fixed costs and partner-led delivery in the countries where help is needed.