A rare wildlife sighting in Machu Picchu is giving nature lovers one more reason to look beyond the famous stone citadel and pay attention to the living ecosystems that surround it.
Peru’s Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu recently captured new footage of an Andean bear, also known as the spectacled bear or "oso de anteojos", walking through the cloud forest with her cub. The video was recorded in the protected forests surrounding Machu Picchu and offers a rare glimpse of the species in its natural habitat. Park specialists say sightings like this are especially valuable because they help researchers better understand how these bears move, feed, and raise their young in the wild.
According to ongoing conservation studies, an estimated 70 Andean bears currently live within the sanctuary, making Machu Picchu one of the most important refuges for the species in Peru. Monitoring efforts carried out with camera traps and satellite tracking have also shown that the bears use most of the protected area, highlighting the strong ecological health of these mountain forests.
For travelers who love wildlife, birdwatching, hiking, and nature photography, Machu Picchu offers much more than ancient ruins. Beyond the archaeological site, the sanctuary protects one of the richest cloud forest ecosystems in the Andes, home to orchids, hummingbirds, spectacled bears, and countless other native species waiting to be discovered.
Source: https://pachamamaradio.org/una-osa-andina-y-su-cria-son-registradas-en-los-bosques-de-machupicchu-uno-de-los-principales-refugios-de-la-especie-en-el-peru/