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There are many myths and legends that surround the existence of bears in Argentina, one of them is 'ucumar', a strong and agile man-bear that can climb the highest trees. The truth is that paleontologists have found fossils that correspond to a giant bear that inhabited the Argentine plains 700,000 years ago, which is believed to be the largest carnivore in Latin America.
Now at present, Are there bears in Argentina? In this Green Ecologist post we will reveal the mystery and tell you everything you need to know. We invite you to continue reading.
Are there bears in Argentina or not?
To answer this question we must first clarify some aspects. At first, in Argentina there are no bears belonging to the family of the ursids. Therefore, if, for example, you wonder if there are polar bears in Argentina, or brown, black or pandas, the answer is no.
However, if there are bears in Latin America, more precisely there are bears in the andes. It is a species scientifically known as Tremarctos ornatus and commonly called the spectacled bear. Its distribution ranges from western Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and western Bolivia. It is estimated that this species at some point inhabited northwestern Argentina, but there is no conclusive evidence in this regard. Despite this, over the years, the faeces and hair of the spectacled bear have been found in the Argentine province of Salta. However, after studying the case, it was concluded that it is an isolated specimen that may have entered the country from Bolivia, so it is far from being an established population.
However, there are other species of Argentine animals that are called bears, although they do not have any close kinship with the ursids. In this section we will tell you what they are.
Anteater in Argentina
First of all, the anteater, flag bear or yurumí (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) It is a charismatic large animal that, as its name indicates, feeds exclusively on termites and ants. They have long, sharp nails and a sticky tongue that allow them to capture insects without destroying the ant hills. Regarding their habits, they are solitary, calm animals with slow movements.
Honey bear in Argentina
On the other hand, we can mention the honey bearTamandua tetradactyla) which is related to the anteater. In fact, their body shape is similar, but considerably smaller in size. Another difference, to the naked eye, is the color of its coat, which is yellowish ocher with a dark spot on the back. Its diet is based on termites, ants and wasps but it also consumes honey and honeycomb wax, hence its name.
Where are there bears in Argentina?
Both the anteater and the honey bear are distributed throughout Latin America. The anteater is found mostly in open grasslands and wooded savannas, although it also inhabits jungles and subtropical forests. On the other hand, the honey bear has a habitat similar to that of the anteater, being found in jungles, forests, mountains and open savannas.
In Argentina, anteater is in the Chaco region and in the Paraná jungle in misions. The honey bear can be found in the Humid Chaco and in the Yungas. In summary, the distribution of both species covers the following Argentine provinces: Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán, Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Corrientes and Misiones. The honey bear can also be seen in Catamarca, La Rioja and Córdoba.
Bears in danger of extinction in Argentina
Next we will tell you the conservation status of the anteater and honey bear.
Anteater
It is classified according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as vulnerable to extinction. In recent decades, their populations have decreased due mainly to the loss and fragmentation of their habitat due to the advance of the agricultural frontier, and to a lesser extent due to the hunting of their specimens and run over on the roads. However, there are anteater reintroduction programs in Iberá, Corrientes, carried out by the Iberá Project. Thanks to this successful program, today there are more than 100 bears living in the wild. Currently the anteater was declared a Natural Monument in the provinces of Chaco and Misiones.
Honey bear
Due to its wide distribution, the IUCN has globally classified the honey bear as Least Concern. Nevertheless, the populations of honey bear in Argentina, are potentially vulnerable to extinction. The truth is that this species is not exempt from the impact of deforestation and the destruction of its habitat, so these would be the causes that contribute to the decline of honey bear populations. Fumigations that directly attack insects, their main source of food, also come into play. In order to conserve the species, during 2008, the province of La Rioja declared this animal a protected species throughout its territory.
If you want to read more articles similar to Are there bears in Argentina?, we recommend that you enter our category of Animal Curiosities.
Bibliography- Red Lists of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Species consulted: Myrmecophaga tridactyla Y Tamandua tetradactyla. Website: https://www.iucnredlist.org/es
- Iberá Project | Giant anteater. Website: http://www.proyectoibera.org/especiesamenazadas_osohormiguero.htm
- Biodiversity Information System of the Administration of National Parks of Argentina. Species consulted: Tremarctos ornatus, Myrmecophaga tridactyla Y Tamandua tetradactyla. Website: https://sib.gob.ar/
