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Wildlife appeal · Colombia

How to Help Andean Bears

Shy and seldom seen, the spectacled bear is South America’s only bear — and its cloud-forest home is being cleared around it.

  • Give on this page — one-off or monthly, card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
  • Colombia is the funded geography — cloud-forest protection, coexistence and rescue
  • You do not get a named zoo bear
  • WARN does not fund contact tourism or unlicensed captive facilities
Donate to Andean bears Jaguar appeal Spectacled bear guide

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Wildlife appeal · Colombia · one-off or monthly

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Supports the rescue-to-sanctuary journey for a trafficked animal.

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Your gift£50 · Andean bears — Colombia

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In brief

Give on this page to help Andean bears. Your gift funds partner-led cloud-forest protection, human–bear coexistence and rescue in Colombia — home to South America’s only bear. Roughly 18,000 remain, listed Vulnerable as cloud forest is cleared. You do not get a named zoo animal. Cancel a monthly gift any time.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated

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

Figures: IUCN Red List Andean bear assessment. See sources below.

Who should skip this

This is not the right page if you want

  • A named zoo bear with photo updates. WARN does not offer that.
  • Contact tourism or an unlicensed captive facility. WARN does not fund those.
  • Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia or Venezuela fieldwork. This appeal’s funded geography is Colombia.
  • Gift Aid or a UK charity receipt — that is registration status, not this page.
  • Posting food or enrichment from Britain unless a partner has asked in writing.
  • Jaguar programmes — those are jaguars appeal. Habitat-only gifts without this appeal are habitat protection appeal.

How to help Andean bears

Give on this page. This URL funds partner-led cloud-forest protection, coexistence and rescue for Andean bears in Colombia, not a named zoo animal. Read the threat split, skip the parcels, then pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.

  1. 1

    Confirm you want Andean bear fieldwork in Colombia

    Stay here for partner grants in Colombia. Peru and Ecuador appear as search context only. If you wanted a UK zoo visit, stop. Species facts: spectacled bear. Jaguar overlap: jaguars appeal. Country context: Colombia.

  2. 2

    Give on this page

    Choose one-off or monthly, pick an amount, pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Stripe emails a receipt. Entry-tier gifts pool across the programme — they are not a named-animal invoice.

  3. 3

    Or give monthly if partners need a calendar

    Monthly is what lets partners keep coexistence teams and rescue capacity on a calendar. Unrestricted monthly without this appeal is monthly giving.

  4. 4

    Skip parcels unless a partner asked

    Do not post food, blankets or equipment from Britain unless a partner asked in writing. Money buys supplies where the animals live. That is faster than a parcel.

Why do Andean bears need help?

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, habitat protection, Colombia and the spectacled bear 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

Andean bear versus other South American mammals
AttributeAndean (spectacled) bearJaguarGiant otter
TypeBear — only species in South AmericaBig cat — apex predatorMustelid — river specialist
IUCN statusVulnerableNear ThreatenedEndangered
HabitatAndean cloud forest & páramoAmazon & Pantanal forestAmazon rivers
WARN networkColombia ✓Brazil & Colombia ✓Brazil ✓
Main threatHabitat loss & conflictDeforestation & conflictMining & hunting

Quick Andean bear facts

Quick Andean bear facts
Other nameSpectacled bear — pale markings around the eyes
Scientific nameTremarctos ornatus
RangeAndes of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela
DietMainly herbivorous — fruit, bromeliads, occasional meat
WARN focusColombia — cloud-forest protection and coexistence
Pop cultureInspiration for a famous storybook bear — but real and threatened
CITESAppendix I
What WARN does not fundContact tourism or unlicensed captive facilities

What does WARN fund?

Cloud-forest protection, coexistence and rescue — see the spectacled bear guide at spectacled bear.

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.

What a gift provides

Choose an amount on this page. These are contribution claims — they help fund the work named below. They are not a named-animal invoice.

Contribution claims, not a named-bear invoice. There is no confirmed unit cost for one patrol day in this file.
Gift What it funds
£20 Helps fund habitat-protection work in Andean cloud forest.
£60 Helps fund work preventing conflict between bears and farmers.
£150 Helps fund care for an orphaned or confiscated Andean bear.

How does my donation reach Andean bears?

You give on this page. WARN holds the gift for this appeal and grants it to a vetted partner in Colombia. They protect cloud forest, run coexistence work with farmers and take in orphaned or confiscated bears.

Buying locally is faster, and it is kinder. WARN's target is for at least 80% of unrestricted donations to fund programme delivery — grants to partner shelters, sanctuary capacity, veterinary care and rescue across the network. That 80% figure is a target, not an audited result. The spend path is at where your money goes.

Card gifts are processed straight away. Monthly income is what lets a partner plan the next clinic, patrol or intake before the last one ends. A one-off gift still matters — use the toggle on the form.

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Andean bears: frequently asked questions

Is the Andean bear endangered?
The Andean or spectacled bear is classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated 18,000 or so left. It is South America’s only bear species.
Where does WARN's Andean bear work happen?
Colombia is the funded geography — WARN partner grants for cloud-forest protection, coexistence and rescue. Peru and Ecuador appear as wider search context only. Country page: Colombia.
Why are Andean bears in trouble?
Cloud-forest clearance for farming and roads, conflict with farmers, poaching and climate change pushing habitat upslope.
What is a spectacled bear?
Another name for the Andean bear — pale fur markings around the eyes resemble spectacles. South America’s only living bear species. Guide: spectacled bear.
Does WARN run its own bear sanctuary?
No. WARN funds established rescue centres and coexistence projects through grants. It does not run WARN-branded facilities.
Can Andean bears be released after rescue?
Some orphans can be rehabilitated and released with specialist care and post-release monitoring. Many need lifelong sanctuary.
How does my donation help Andean bears?
Give on this page. Gifts are held for partner-led cloud-forest protection, coexistence and rescue in Colombia. They are not a named-bear invoice.
Are Andean bears dangerous?
They are shy and avoid humans. Conflict occurs when hungry bears enter farmland — coexistence programmes reduce retaliation.
How is the Andean bear related to other bears?
It is the last surviving short-faced bear — a distinct lineage separate from North American and Eurasian bears.
Why Colombia for WARN’s focus?
Colombia is a WARN partner-network country with significant Andean bear habitat and partner-led coexistence and rescue programmes. See Colombia.
How do I donate to help Andean bears?
Give on this page. Choose one-off or monthly, pick an amount, pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The gift funds partner-led cloud-forest protection, coexistence and rescue in Colombia. It is not a named-bear invoice.
How can I help Andean bears from the UK?
Stay on this URL. Pay in GBP, USD or EUR by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Stripe emails a receipt. If you wanted a UK zoo experience, this is the wrong page. Gift Aid is explained at registration status.
Can I give monthly to help Andean bears?
Yes — use the monthly toggle on the form above. Unrestricted monthly without this appeal is monthly giving.
How does my donation reach Andean bears?
You give on this page. WARN grants to a vetted partner. They buy supplies locally and run the work. WARN's target is for at least 80% of unrestricted donations to fund programme delivery — grants to partner shelters, sanctuary capacity, veterinary care and rescue across the network. That 80% figure is a target, not an audited result. See where your money goes. Funded geography: Colombia. See Colombia.
Is this Gift Aid eligible or US tax-deductible?
No. Gift Aid is only available to UK registered charities. World Animal Rescue Network is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation, not a registered charity. International donors should check their own local rules. Full detail is at registration status. You still receive a payment receipt.
Should I post parcels or supplies from the UK?
Please donate money instead, unless a named partner has asked for a specific item in writing. Parcels from Britain usually arrive late and cost more than buying locally. A card gift on this page is the fastest way to help.

Sources and references

Ready to help Andean bears?

Give on this page. Every gift funds partner-led fieldwork in Colombia — not a named zoo bear, and not a parcel from Britain.

Donate to Andean bears
Donate to Andean bears