Andean bears (spectacled bears) are the only wild bear species in South America and face habitat threats, with zoo populations contributing to both conservation breeding and public awareness of their plight.
Andean bears in zoo settings generally adapt reasonably well when provided with complex, naturalistic environments that allow expression of their remarkable intelligence and foraging diversity. Their predominantly frugivorous diet is replicable in zoo settings, though the foraging complexity of harvesting diverse wild foods across large territories cannot be fully replicated. Their solitary nature simplifies social management compared to gregarious species, but means bears must have adequate space to avoid unwanted social contact. The strong individual personalities of Andean bears make individualized management important — welfare practices effective for one individual may not suit another. Zoo populations provide conservation education about one of South America most understudied large mammals.