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Bear Necessities - Education, Conservation                                             and Research on bears
The Conservation of the Andean Bear in the Venezuelan Andes
Provita is a Venezuelan non-governmental organization that has developed a research/education program for the conservation of the Andean bear since 1987. The organization's first success was to rescue this species from anonymity and as a result of a national campaign and various sponsorships, the Andean bear has become a symbol of nature and habitat quality in the Andean region.
Although the plight of the Andean bear is now well known, the wild population has continued to decline. This is mainly due to the decreasing forest cover and continuous poaching.
Field studies in 1991 produced a data base with more than 500 reports on sightings of the Andean Bears and other Andean animals in two Venezuelan states. (Mérida and Trujillo).
Since human activities have been found to be the key factor determining the Andean bears status in Venezuela, it has been concluded that the next phase of this study be focused on environmental education programs which involve Andean inhabitants in the rural areas where the situation of this bear is most critical.

Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus)
 

Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
Sun Bears of Thailand
Sun bears are the least known of all bears as there have been no formal studies of this species ever undertaken. It is known however, about their declining populations due to reduced habitats, poaching for parts and live capture of cubs for the pet trade. These activities are of particular concern especially in Thailand.
A study is currently being done in Thailand to obtain basic information on this bears natural history, mating, births parental care, social organization and food habits. The study also aims to look at specific issues affecting the sun bear’s population status, for example, bear/human interactions, bear presence and relative abundance, re-introduction of confiscated, orphaned cubs back into the wild as well as niche overlap between sun bears and Asiatic black bears.

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