REINTRODUCTION OF
CAPTIVE ANDEAN BEARS
Reintroduction is the effort to establish a species in an area that was at one time part of their historical distribution, but where they no longer exist. It is an important technique in the effort to prevent the extinction of endangered species, such as the Andean Bear.

The goals of the reintroduction program in Ecuador are to strengthen the populations of bears in Northeastern Ecuador and to learn more about the individual ecology of this elusive animal. The reintroduction program in Ecuador is based on the UICN guidelines (1995).

Two reintroduction projects have been accomplished, resulting in seven captive bears being reintroduced to the cloudforests of Northern Ecuador. Two of the bears were eventually moved to Sangay National Park because they would not stay away from people and farms.  Another was relocated to an islet in Lake Cuicocha in northern Ecuador. After 17 months on the islet he swam away, probably in search of a female. We do not know where he is now.
For more information on the reintroduction projects please see the following documents:
Martin, A Bear's Fight for Freedom
THE ANDEAN BEAR, FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH THE REHABILITATION AND LIBERATION OF THREE BEARS, Article published in the Magazine Deportes Sin Limites, Julio 1998, Number 02, Pages 37-41.
Ecology and Behavior of Reintroduced Andean Bears in the Biological Reserve Maquipucuna, Ecuador: Implications in Conservation, Armando X. Castellanos P., Marco Altamirano B and Gustavo Tapia A.

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