Journal : Bears of the High Andes

"To go where no one has gone before." This should be the motto of biologist Susanna Paisley. National Geographic EXPLORER takes you along with Susy on the first scientific expedition in the Bolivian Andes to study the only species of South American bear - the Andean. The long trip to the Apolobamba range is worth it, as the area is known for its abundance of bears. Residents of the region tell stories of bear attacks and fear a "bear invasion." Unfortunately, these human-bear conflicts have led to the illegal hunting of the animals. Now, the species is listed as threatened. Susy baits, traps, and sedates an Andean bear and affixes it with a radio collar. She radio-locates each captured bear twice weekly from the ridgelines of the Andes. If she cannot locate them on the ground, then a potentially dangerous air search, involving a twin-engine plane, is the back-up plan. Until now, there has been little field research done on the Andean Bear. Susy hopes her work will give these unique South American bears a better chance for survival in the mountains of Bolivia.