In a milestone achievement, SBC has successfully fitted the first GPS collars on spectacled bears in northern Peru’s Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge protected area. Our dedicated team deployed five collars in just a few days, possible because of SBC’s years of data collection in the area and our team’s incredible expertise in bear monitoring.
This accomplishment, achieved in collaboration with SERNANP (Peru’s Protected Area Authority), is a major leap forward in protecting endangered bears in the equatorial dry forest. As through +15 years of research, we have determined that the Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge and the surrounding landscape (covering 75,000 acres) represent the most crucial remaining habitat for spectacled bears in this ecosystem.
Unlike camera traps, GPS collars track real-time bear movements, giving unprecedented insights into their daily lives both inside and outside the protected area. As a result, the collars accelerate our understanding of bear health, habitat use and the threats they face. The data will empower SERNANP to strengthen park management and enable SBC to develop science-based conservation actions for bears beyond the park boundaries.
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Fitting bears with GPS collars is a labour of love for our dedicated field team. Intensive preparation and planning are part of the job, and every team member – our veterinarian, bear experts and field assistants – plays a vital role. Throughout the year they have spent countless days baiting traps, monitoring bear activity, and staying ready to respond the moment the trap is triggered by a bear. The success of our collaring program is thanks to their hard work.
This success builds on the momentum of our collaboration with SERNANP in the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, where our collaring program launched in May is yielding valuable insights from four collared bears. Looking ahead, our goal is to expand the programs in the Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge and Machu Picchu with more collars in 2025 to continue driving research and bear conservation forward.