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The bear hidden in the Andean forests (following their tracks in Argentina)

The following article was published on the website of Nature Photography Argentina to visit the original article to leave you the link: http://www.fnaweb.org/Fauna_OsoAndino.htm

Argentina and the World Wildlife

Andean Bear

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

Hunting is one of the major causes of population decline of the bear hunt by local residents for their livelihoods, livestock predation infrequently, corn and sugar cane or by considerations dangerous to humans associated with cultural reasons (use of their parts for traditional medicine and mystical beliefs - religious).

The expansion of the livestock, is one of the root causes, which contributes to population decline of the bear through the fragmentation and habitat loss. In addition, its low natural densities in many areas, low reproductive rate, long period of parental dependence and reduced genetic variability, are considered risk factors to the reduction of habitat species or natural specimens continued hunting.

© Belen Etchegaray

is considered to bear glasses, as focal species, it requires to survive large distances, is a good indicator of habitat conservation and its specialized diet requirements. Ensuring survival, ensuring also that of many other species native to the region to protect large areas interconnected. As also, the maintenance of watersheds and natural precipitation patterns in a given area.

The northwest is an important center of biodiversity and endemism (species that are present only in this region of the globe only) and is also an important biological corridor for many species of mammals.

Particularly among large carnivores, which by its habitat requirements in good condition: they have become a potential area to support future viable populations of the same. Especially in the Ecosystem of Tucuman-Oranense Rain or Yungas. One of the richest ecosystems in mammals of Argentina, with 9 orders, 25 families, more than 90 genera and 110 species currently described.

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.

zeal, often be annual and lasts a week. It monoestrus (has only one mating season per year), which is traditional among ursids. In captivity, occurs in the first months of the year (February-July). Mating, have a duration of 12 to 45 minutes and can spread throughout the week of estrus, mating was observed up to 5 in one day.

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 .

If you want to cite the article, I suggested we quote:

Del Moral F. and F. Lameda 2008. Juco: The bear is hidden in Andean forests. Nature Photography Argentina Web. FNAweb.org. Issue No. 1. July 2008.