Andean Bears are the only species of bear native to South America, and the single remaining relative of prehistoric short-faced bears in the world, but their populations and mountain habitat are quickly disappearing.
Elusive yet charismatic, Andean bears live in the most biologically diverse region on earth and represent an umbrella species - their population status is an indicator of the overall health of their ecosystem. Experts predict that that Andean Bears will be considered endangered in the next 20 years. Research on bear distribution and populations is needed to design effective conservation strategies for this threatened species.