Endangered Animals Found in Peru

Five endangered animals found in Peru
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“Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land,” penned American environmentalist Aldo Leopold in 1948. In
Peru, one of the world’s 12 megadiverse countries, this insight is borne out by the lasting love affair between Pacha Mama
(Mother Earth) and the first Peruvians, who, as a sign of their gratitude, made a number of animals and other elements of
nature into deities.
It should be noted that as one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, Peru holds more than 70% of the Earth’s species within
its borders. Its flora and fauna is considered among the most varied on the planet. The country boasts 11 ecoregions, including
cold ocean, tropical ocean, coastal desert, equatorial dry forest, Pacific tropical forest, hilly steppe, dry highland plateau (puna),
moist highland plateau (páramo), montane rainforest (highland jungle), tropical Amazon rainforest (lowland jungle) and palm
savanna. These varied landscapes give rise to the endless variety of species living in the country. In 2015 alone, 71 plant
species, 33 species of terrestrial fauna, 6 types of freshwater fish, as well as saltwater fish, insects, and others were discovered.
These new species take their place alongside well-known endemic species such as the vicuña, the north Andean deer (taruca),
the cock-of-the-rock and the immense variety of fish in the Peruvian seas, rivers and lakes. Some of the most important species
of endemic plants– vegetation that grows by itself naturally, without any human intervention– are the natural grasslands in the
Andes, the forests of the Amazon and the vegetation of the coastal hills.
All these elements have converged in Peru to give life to one of the most populated habitats on Earth and, therefore, to one of
the places where the highest percentage of endangered animals live. Here are some species that may disappear over the coming
years.
Spectacled bear
Peru is the country that is home to the largest population of spectacled bears in the entire continent, with nearly six thousand
scattered around the different regions of the country. It should be noted that this bear is one of the eight species that exist in
the world and it only lives in the Andean-Amazon region. In Peru, the spectacled bear can be found in various types of
ecosystems located between 1,600 feet and 14,700 feet above sea level. However, these fascinating animals prefer the
rainforests of the High Jungle and the Páramo, where there is a lot of rainfall.
ABOUT THE SPECTACLED BEAR
The diminutive spectacled bear makes its home in the dense Andean jungles of South America, and it has the distinction of
being the continent’s only bear.
Coloring and Eye Markings
Spectacled bears wear shaggy fur that is black, brown, or sometimes reddish. They are so named for the whitish to yellowish
rings that encircle their eyes, resembling large eyeglasses. These lines, however, don't always fully encircle the eyes, and
some individuals lack the markings altogether.
Size and Weight Spectacled bears, also called Andean bears, are among the smallest members of the family Ursidae. Males,
which are significantly larger than females, grow over 5 feet in length and weigh up to 340 pounds. Females rarely weigh
more than 180 pounds.
Behavior Intensely shy bears, they prefer the lush, isolated cloud forests on the slopes of the Andes, climbing as high as
14,000 feet. They will descend to search for food though, and have been seen in widely differing habitats, from rain forests,
to steppe lands, to coastal deserts. Spectacled bears are generally nocturnal and are primarily vegetarian, harvesting fruit,
berries, cacti, and honey. Highly agile climbers, they have been known to sit in a tree for days on a platform made of broken
branches, waiting for fruit to ripen. They have extremely strong jaws and wide, flat molars to chew tough vegetation such as
tree bark and orchid bulbs. Occasionally they will supplement their diet with meat, taking small rodents, birds, insects, and
even small cows, making them the largest carnivores in South America.
Reproduction Solitary animals, mature spectacled bears are normally seen together only during mating season. Females
usually give birth to one or two small, helpless cubs, which are mobile after a month, but remain with the mother for up to
eight months, often hitching a ride on the mother’s back.
Threats to Survival Spectacled bears populations suffer primarily from destruction and fragmentation of their habitat.
Poachers also hunt them for their meat and body parts, and farmers kill them as agricultural pests.

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Five endangered animals found in Peru

Coloring and Eye Markings

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