Andean Bear: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Bears · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. The pale markings on an Andean bear's face differ slightly from bear to bear, so individuals can be told apart.
2. In Quechua, its name ukumari means hole bear: the pale face markings skip the eyes, so they look like dark holes.
3. Andean bears are mostly plant eaters: only about 5 to 7 percent of the diet is meat. Cactus, palm nuts and bamboo hearts are common foods.
4. Meeting humans, Andean bears usually retreat, often up a tree, where they may build a platform to rest and store food on.
5. Male Andean bears weigh 100 to 200 kilograms, females 35 to 82. That size gap rivals the polar bear's.

The quiz

1. What lets people tell individual Andean bears apart?

• Their ear tags
• Their facial markings (correct)
• Their claw length
• The shape of their tails

The pale face markings differ slightly on every bear.

2. What does the local name ukumari mean?

• Fast runner
• Night wanderer
• Honey thief
• Hole bear (correct)

Ukumari means hole bear, because the pale markings leave the eyes dark, like holes.

3. How much of the Andean bear's diet is meat?

• About 5 to 7 percent (correct)
• About 50 percent
• About 25 percent
• About 90 percent

Only about 5 to 7 percent of the diet is meat.

4. What do Andean bears usually do when they meet humans?

• Charge at once
• Freeze in place
• Retreat, often up a tree (correct)
• Dig a burrow

They usually retreat, often by climbing a tree.

5. How much do female Andean bears weigh?

• 100 to 200 kilograms
• 35 to 82 kilograms (correct)
• 10 to 20 kilograms
• 150 to 250 kilograms

Females weigh 35 to 82 kilograms.

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