Spectacled bears are the only bear species native to South America and one of the rarest in zoo collections. Their forest ecology and dietary needs create specific welfare requirements for captive management.
Spectacled bear welfare in zoos requires attention to their arboreal habits and dietary diversity. Unlike more terrestrial bear species, spectacled bears evolved for tree climbing in complex Andean forest environments — enclosures without substantial climbing structures at multiple heights fail to engage a core aspect of their natural behaviour. Foraging enrichment is critical: these bears spend large portions of their active time in the wild manipulating food items, and captive environments that provide puzzle feeders, scattered food, and browse material significantly improve time budgets. Their primarily herbivorous diet requires high-fibre, varied plant material that many general-purpose bear diets may not adequately provide. Solitary management — housing individuals separately except for carefully managed breeding introductions — is appropriate for this naturally solitary species and prevents the chronic aggression that can develop between mismatched captive pairs. Positive reinforcement training for husbandry behaviours (mouth opening for dental checks, station training for injections) reduces the stress of necessary veterinary procedures.