The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is South America's only bear species. Providing appropriate enrichment in captivity addresses their complex behavioral and cognitive needs.
Spectacled bears in zoos require enrichment that addresses both their foraging complexity and climbing behavior. Simple food presentation does not satisfy their highly motivated foraging drive, which in the wild involves extracting bromeliads and stripping palm hearts over several hours. Puzzle feeders, scatter feeding, buried food items, and frozen treats embedded in ice all extend feeding time and reduce stereotypies. Vertical complexity — tall climbing structures, hammocks, and platforms — allows expression of arboreal tendencies. Social housing should be carefully managed, as adults are largely solitary. Bears in impoverished environments develop chronic stress, evidenced by stereotypic weaving or pacing that persists even when enrichment is eventually provided.