Armando appealed me, through the photographer Philippe Henry.

He allowed me to use his pictures to illustrate this article.

Armando Castellanos, Project Director for the Conservation of the Andean Bear (spectacled bear) in Ecuador, is seeking financial assistance to print and publish a paper on methods of rehabilitation and reintroduction of some bears in their natural environment.

Armando and his team recover bears that were held in captivity ( since they were cubs), in restaurants, hotels or other locations in Ecuador and release them in their natural environment after several months of rehabilitation.

 

© Philippe Henry - Spectacled bear in captivity
 

It is in large enclosures and out of sight, that bears learn to feed on natural food before being released in vast wilderness of several hundreds of thousands of acres where they would face no human being.

 

© Philippe Henry - The bear is is put to sleep before to be carried in the enclosure where
it will be kept several months before to be released.

© Philippe Henry - Transport of the bear to the enclosure


 

© Philippe Henry - Enclosure where the bear is carried and
will be kept several months before to be released

Armando works for the conservation of bear for more than ten years and he recently produced this document which includes information, graphs, drawings and some photos.

This document is intended for scientists and people working in the conservation of bear in other Latin American countries and who don't have skills and knowledges to rehabilitate and release bears in the wild.

It is therefore a very important document because there are still many bears held in captivity in hotels, restaurants and even among individuals in various countries in South America.

The release of these bears in areas where there are other wild bears improves the genetic diversity of the species.

 

© Philippe Henry - Ours dans l'enclos

To print 1,000 copies of a document in Ecuador costs about U.S. $­­ 4,000, or 2,800 to 3,000 Euros (check the exact amount).

Any help would be appreciated. It would also be very appreciated to get help directly from a European printer who would print this document for free.


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