This is the moment a cheeky endangered bear picks up a camera monitoring a volcano and for a fraction of a second records a selfie before switching it off.
The spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear, (Tremarctos ornatus) found the camera owned by the surveillance network of the Geophysical Institute of Ecuador which monitors the country’s volcanoes.
Video Credit: CEN/IGEPNecuador
In the video shared by the institute, the camera is seen to be filming clouds before they are replaced by what appear to be the bears claws which it reportedly used to pick the camera up.
The camera, moved from its position, is then seen recording a metal structure and takes takes a selfie of the bear moments before the bear deactivates the device.
The institute did not confirm where in the country the incident took place but they explained to local media that the cameras are located in strategic locations in remote places.
The deactivated camera had been recording for almost six years and its main function was to record the volcanic activity in the area. The cameras are reportedly supported by resistant metal structures which can be up to three metres high but the bear managed to break through the security feature anyway.
Male Andean bears can weigh from 100 to 200 kilogrammes (220 to 440 lbs), and females can weigh from 35 to 82 kilogrammes (77 to 181 lbs) and then grow up to 2 metres (six feet six inches) tall.
The species is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List due to poaching and habitat loss. The species is the inspiration behind Paddington Bear, who is described as travelling to London from “darkest Peru”.
Netizen ‘Pao QC’ said: “It wanted to take a selfie… they should try to find a way of putting it in a place so that they cannot do naughty things.”
While ‘Maria Fernanda Melo’ added: “Beautiful! Don’t say where it is located just in case there is a crazy person who wants to kill it.”
And ‘Jean Mary’ commented: “Beautiful and naughty… of course we were left without a camera and it will take a long time to get a new one up and running. But it was beautiful to see this little bear although I know that it is disappearing due to illegal hunting.”
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News
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