The Andean bear is the model of ursine cuteness; a mostly vegetarian bear (wild avocados are their favourite) that plods through the foggy forests of South America with a countenance so adorable, it was apparently the inspiration for that marmalade-loving émigré Paddington.
They’re also in danger of extinction. The dry forests that the bears depend on are being cut down to make way for agricultural land, or new oilfields and roads. With their arboreal homes shrinking fast, they’ve started venturing into local farmland for food. They’re often met by disgruntled local cattle farmers with shotguns, who have little choice but to kill them, fearing for their families’ safety and that more of their crops or livestock could be destroyed.
