The sounds of love: acoustic repertoire of Andean bear, Tremarctos ornatus (Carnivora: Ursidae), mating in the wild

Understanding animal behavior is crucial for effective mammal conservation efforts; however, limited knowledge exists regarding the behavioral patterns of many species, particularly in wild conditions. The Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the only ursid distributed in South America and is categorized as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN. The information on various aspects of its natural history in wildlife conditions are scarce, including the ethology of its reproduction. In this study, we describe the sound repertoire emitted by T. ornatus during copulation and mating events in their natural habitat. Video recordings obtained from camera traps in Colombia and Bolivia were analyzed to identify and categorize vocalizations. The results revealed 5 distinct types of sounds emitted during copulation events: humm, grunt, whine, and snoar signals. Differences in vocalization patterns were observed between the male and female bears. Comparisons with existing literature suggest similarities with the vocalizations observed for other species. This study contributes valuable information to the understanding of Andean bear behavior and underscores the importance of acoustic communication in conservation efforts for cryptic species.