Argentina and the World Wildlife
The bear hidden in the Andean forests
(following their tracks in Argentina)
© Fernando Del Moral and Fatima Imaru Lameda.
By © Fernando Del Moral and Fatima Imaru Lameda.
Faculty of Natural Sciences - School of Biology - National University of Salta
RED Tremarctos - (Global Andean Bear Specialist)
Introduction
The Juco, spectacled or Andean bear is the only Tremarctos ursid ornatus (bear family) found in South America. It is included in Appendix 1 of CITES (Convention on International Traffic in Flora and Fauna) since 1977 and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified it as Vulnerable globally since 1994. Today it was confirmed that distribution of the species, comprising: forests tropical and subtropical clouds of the Andes in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, including the international political border between Bolivia and Argentina. He lives between 250 and 4250 meters above sea level (m) .
© Belen Etchegaray
© Belen Etchegaray
is in this region where the presence of larger and more representative carnivorous tropical South American Andes, has been controversial since the second half of twentieth century. No serious field studies to support this claim, although some older reports by residents. Andean Bear, has remained an ever-present myth in the popular imagination of the northern Andes. On the dark and evil "Ucumar" human raptor. Ubiquitous inhabitant of hostility, terror and mystery that represent the Andean jungle, in the cosmology of the Andean people.
However, it was recently que se ha determinado la presencia de la especie en territorio argentino, mediante el levantamiento de indicios indirectos de su presencia (huellas, arañazos en árboles, heces, etc.). Y donde actualmente se está llevando a cabo un estudio más exhaustivo, para determinar su distribución actual y demostrarla a cabalidad.
El Oso Andino, Diagnosis.
El oso andino, es el fourth in size among the other bear species existing today. And the only one present in the Neotropics (terrestrial biogeographic region that stretches from Central America to South America). They have a solid body and thick, short limbs and broad hands and feet. The head is square with a broad snout and short. It has a thick black coat, but there is also, forms reddish-brown and brown infrequently. The snout whitish-brown around the eyes, has white circular spots like "glasses" and that extends through the jaw, throat and chest.
© Belen Etchegaray
T. ornatus, Share with other species of the lacrimal ursids reduced to vestigial form a ring around the naso-lacrimal foramen. The bullae small and flat. The presence of penile bone.
In contrast, other species, has 13 pairs of ribs (a couple more that the other bears present in the world), has the naso-maxillary bone and inserts shorter long-molars and premolars, and a developed musculature mandibular specialized herbivores. The dental formula is traditional among ursids, has 42 rooms (i3 / 3, c1 / 1, p 4 / 4 and m2 / 3). The chromosome number is unique among bears, 2n = 52 (which means it has 52 pairs or sets of chromosomes in every somatic cell, or two times more than in the gametes or sex cells).
El Macho has a height at the withers of 0.80 meters and a body length of 1.40 meters. And the females with a length of 1.20 meters to the cross, standing on his hind legs having up to 2.00 meters tall. 50% being males larger than females. Weighing from 70 to 150kg the first, and females 60 kg.
Natural History
Bear is primarily solitary, although there are reports of social groups of up to 9 individuals eating cactus Opuntia spp., in the fruiting season in Peru. Are active both day and night. Ursids are very cryptic and difficult to observe due to the preference of primary habitats inaccessible and poor visibility in the same, for the constant presence of mist, characteristics of these units.
© Fernando Del Moral and Fatima Imaru Lameda.
Adult males have an exclusive territory or area of \u200b\u200blife around 65km2 while adult females have an area of 15 to 20 km2, which partially overlap each other within the area of \u200b\u200ba resident male.
a broad range of vocalizations - the common name "ucucu" approaches the most characteristic guttural voice of the bear - and visual cues (the scratch and / or debarking of tree trunks) and odorant through which they interact socially with their peers. Either as indicative of the presence and territoriality or search for a partner during estrus (heat). Those who carried out through the back sebaceous glands, males, odorized forest elements (such as tree trunks, boulders) by scrubbing your back on them, as evidence of territoriality towards other males.
© Fernando Del Moral and Fatima Imaru Lameda.
are also excellent climbers, and spend enough time on the tree canopy, which builds "bed or nests composed by the same branches and leaves of the tree where it sets, or on the ground with branches and leaves nearly always a temporary source of food. They are also very good swimmers, with preference for mountain peaks and bodies of permanent or seasonal water.
Their diet is varied eat bromeliads (Bromelia spp and Guzmannia Tillandsia spp.) Pseudobulvos and spinal meristematic bamboo, among others. Additionally, bear, eat insects, rodents, birds, deer and honey.
The main enemies natural than man, are the Jaguar (Panthera onca) and Puma (Puma concolor) cubs and subadults that preys mainly dispersed in the jaguar.
Sexual maturity is reached at the bear to the 4 to 5 years of age and females at 3 to 4 years. But this is differential depending on the availability of food and attained height.
Gestation is variable due to delayed implantation the zygote in the uterine wall of the pregnant female, which is estimated between 160 to 250 days. However, due to the long phase of implementation is reduced to only 65 days. At birth the babies weigh between 275 to 380 grams and measuring 25 to 35 cm. body length.
After their traces, in Argentina:
biological and ecological research, the species wildlife, is still in its infancy. However, although progress in these fields imply that other, more remote, such as knowledge of global distribution, would be depleted. Still, they are exploring new areas in search of evidence of their presence. As is the case of southern Bolivia, and the Darien region on the border between Colombia and Panama.
© Fernando Del Moral and Fatima Imaru Lameda.
particular this is the situation in the cloud forests of northwestern Argentina. Where the Andean bear, is known since time immemorial by Kolla communities and Gauchos (Creole), which reside in the area and is called: Juco, Ucumar / i, Uco / a, Ucuco (all these words in Quechua, are synonyms for bear) or Panda Criollo. However, most people have referred to as a hominid species. And as in other references of their distribution, are considered dangerous or "evil" because of the uncertain assumption that they can of kidnapping and raping people. What has earned the name "Mono Rapist", additionally. These current beliefs of the popular imagination, the ancient worldview degenerated protective organization of bears in the Tropical Andes, the indigenous peoples during the English conquest, the adoption of the concept of bear raptor, characteristic of brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the Pyrenees .
Through a series of examinations, conducted recent years in jungle areas of Tucuman - Oranense or Yungas, in Salta and Jujuy. It has been determined the presence of T. ornatus in Argentina. Obtained indirect evidence of the occurrence of this, by lifting fingerprints, in the north of Salta in 2004. Apart from rising food bromeliads signals, feces and scratches on trees, in the same area, in January 2006. And timely reports from local people.
© Fernando Del Moral and Fatima Imaru Lameda.
In Jujuy, the species was reported within the biological corridor that communicates with the northeastern Salta. These preliminary records, led to the recent inclusion of Argentina in The Red List of Threatened Species IUCN as a country with JUCO distribution. Furthermore, to constitute the Southern Andes Ecoregional Complex (southern Peru, Bolivia and Argentina recently) classification for research and conservation for the species, developed by IUCN and the World Conservation Society (WCS).
Although, it ignores the population size of JUCO in the country. Its population would be relictual, or is of very low densities.
Villagers have reported the incursion of bears in cornfields (which consume), in areas of high forest. And apparently, in addition to your diet to use with acid rhizomes of "Querusilla (Gunnera spp.) Bromeliads fish and catfish; in the upper reaches of rivers.
© Belen Etchegaray
Finally, we have initiated a Program Evaluation (RAP, for its acronym in English), with the objective determine the distribution of the Andean Bear now as to quantify the population size and threats to their sobrevivenvia in Argentina. Which is of particular global importance for conservation at the southern end of distribution.
© Fernando Del Moral and Fatima Imaru Lameda .
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