MAKE A GIFT TO PROTECT THE ONLY BEAR IN SOUTH AMERICA
AFTER THE EXPEDITION: CAMERA TRAP STUDY RESULTS ACCELERATE CONSERVATION ACTION IN MACHU PICCHU
Her anticipation and excitement began to grow the moment her boots hit the trail. Six months earlier, Carmen Tucto, a research assistant at SBC, had been in the same spot installing cameras traps. Now she was back again about to find out what they recorded.
In late 2023, SBC retrieved 200 camera traps deployed during the largest field expedition in Machu Picchu’s history. The study produced important data for bears and biodiversity in the protected area. Strategic investment in major projects like SBC’s camera trap study is crucial for accelerating conservation action and protecting species and ecosystems under serious threat.
The expedition was a major undertaking with more than 25 people camping in the field for over three weeks. Together the team collectively hiked over a thousand miles to cover Machu Picchu 
Our team included Machu Picchu park rangers whose in depth knowledge of the landscape, the resident bear population, and the iconic ruins and culture guided us to success The Urgent Need For Data
SBC’s camera trap study was the first step in collecting the ecological data urgently needed by Peru’s government to strengthen conservation measures for spectacled bears. This is necessary because each year 1.5 million tourists visit the famous ruins and Inca Trail. Current information on bears and their habitat use is needed to continue promoting tourism while protecting the wildlife that co-exists in the area.
Important Results For Bears And Biodiversity
SBC’s study was a major success. 30% of the cameras recorded bear detections (our goal was 20%). In total, we documented 43 individuals, including 37 independent bears and 6 cubs. Among the most exciting findings were the records of bears and other animals with their young. It is very encouraging to see reproduction and reproductive success across species because these are among the most critical factors to investigate further.
Sadly, no bears were detected near the park boundary close to villages or in areas highly affected by cattle. This result validates our concerns about the impact of increasing tourism and development pressure.
It was thrilling to see bears and other species with their offspring Notable Discoveries
The cameras recorded important data on local biodiversity. The results expanded the known range for some species and included the first detection of others in Machu Picchu. New and notable records include:
- the discovery of three species recorded for the first time (the pacarana, kinkajou and northern tiger cat),
- the world’s highest recorded sighting of a jaguarundi,
- and the presence of the Machu Picchu arboreal chinchilla rat in new areas of the park.
Overall, we detected 24 large and medium-sized mammals, including five species of wild cats.
We discovered three new species in Machu Picchu: Pacarana 
Kinkajou 
Northern tiger cat 
We documented the highest recorded sighting of a jaguarundi at an astonishing 4,500 meters above sea level, far from its usual Amazonian lowland habitat 
The cameras captured a rare sighting of a mountain toucan out of the tree canopy The results from this study provide us with the baseline data needed for the long-term monitoring of Machu Picchu’s bear population. Additionally, the sites with the highest bear detection rates and presence of females have been selected as the locations with the highest probability of success for deploying GPS collars on bears. SBC’s camera trap expedition was an important first step towards stronger conservation action for bears and biodiversity in Machu Picchu.
Click here to read our 2023 Annual Report to learn about more highlights and achievements.
