Duisburg's spectacled bear cub Tia: Curious discovery tour in the zoo!

Duisburg's spectacled bear cub Tia: Curious discovery tour in the zoo!

The animal world in Duisburg is exciting with a very special new addition: the spectacled bear cub Tia, born on December 24, 2024, is now exploring the outdoor area of ​​the Duisburg Zoo. Tia is very interested in her surroundings - she happily climbs climbing trees, roams through the undergrowth, sleeps comfortably on the grass and even explores the babbling streams in places. Zoo visitors now have the opportunity to observe Tia from different perspectives and experience her curiosity up close.

District manager Mike Kirschner said that the little bear's breeding was going well. He is particularly proud of Tia's curious behavior. Her diet has already changed noticeably: In addition to her mother's milk, she now eats more and more fresh vegetables and has developed a preference for grapes and honeycomb. This tasty combination ensures joy in the bear's den. Tia continues to nurse and is supplied with milk by her mother Huanca until she is around two and a half years old.

Lifestyle and reproduction

The spectacled bears, or “Andean bears” in English, are the only bears in South America and a special species of short-snouted bears. Males can grow up to 190 cm long and weigh between 130 and 175 kg, while females are smaller and weigh around 60 to 80 kg. Their striking, brighter face gives them their name. These curious animals can live in a variety of habitats, especially in the tropical Andes and neighboring mountains of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela.

Spectacled bears are solitary animals and spend most of their time eating, about 70% of their day. They are omnivores and enjoy a varied diet of tubers, roots, fruits and occasionally small animals such as birds and insects. Even though Tia and her mother are currently exploring the outdoor area together, a gradual introduction of Tia and the male Pablo is planned from late summer.

Threats and protective measures

But there is a serious problem for the spectacled bears: they are classified as an endangered species. The habitat has declined significantly in recent years and the animals are suffering from hunting. It is estimated that only around 24,000 to 25,000 of them remain in the wild. The Duisburg Zoo is actively committed to protecting these impressive animals, particularly by supporting conservationists in the Tapichalaca Reserve in Ecuador. The aim is to expand the habitat for spectacled bears and other species such as pumas and mountain tapirs.

The IUCN has classified the spectacled bears as “endangered” and they have been listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of International Trade in Endangered Species since 1977. In the northern Andes, around 200 spectacled bears are targeted for hunting each year, mainly by farmers, further exacerbating the situation. But the establishment of protected areas and educational projects offer a silver lining.

Tia, our little adventurer from Duisburg, reminds us how important it is not only to talk about protecting these majestic animals, but also to actively do something to preserve them. Anyone who would like to take a look at Tia's journey of discovery is cordially invited to visit the Duisburg Zoo and experience the fascination of the spectacled bear together.

For more information about the spectacled bear you can LocalCompact, the Wikipedia and WWF visit.