Spectacled bears are 1 of 4 extant bear species that are habitually arboreal, alongside the American black bear, Asian black bear, and the sun bear.
Spectacled bears are one of four extant bear species that are habitually arboreal, alongside the American black bear (Ursus americanus), Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus), and the sun bear, (Helarctos malayanus).
Andean bears are excellent climbers and spend a fair amount of time in trees. Despite their weight, they can even jump from tree to tree without injury. The bears have even been observed climbing out onto the ends of limbs, biting the branches to break them and causing the animal to fall to the branch below, and continuing this process until they reach the ground. Spectacled bears have been reported “falling” in this manner from heights as high as 30 feet.
• Image | © Tambako The Jaguar, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-ND 2.0)
• Sources | (Castellanos, 2011; Fenner, 2012; Fernando del Moral; Hunter, 2011; LaFee, 2009; Nowak, 1999; Servheen, Herrero, & Peyton, 1999; Wikimedia Foundation, 2018)
