Andean bear Cusín returns to Imbabura mountains after release

Cusín, a juvenile Andean bear, has returned to a natural environment in Imbabura after repeated interactions with people near the community of Cochas in the Angochagua parish.

The case activated the provincial wildlife response protocol. Authorities moved Cusín to Zuleta, an area with fewer people and greater natural resources. The relocation followed more than a year of monitoring by biologist Andrés Laguna through a conservation program supported by the Imbabura provincial government.

The intervention included capturing, marking and releasing the bear using non-lethal methods. Before the move, veterinarians conducted a clinical examination and collected biological samples to assess Cusín’s condition. Specialists also fitted the bear with a satellite collar.

The collar will record Cusín’s movements and identify the areas he uses to feed and travel. Officials said the information will improve understanding of Andean bear behavior, strengthen conservation strategies and help prevent future risky interactions between wildlife and communities.

Condors living in the area were present when Cusín arrived in the forests and mountains of Zuleta. The operation involved provincial and parish authorities, environmental protection officers, the Municipality of Otavalo, the Taita Imbabura Protected Area and several conservation, academic and refuge organizations.