Rare Andean bears spotted at Machu Picchu

The curious mother bear and her cub walked through the ruins of this 15th century Incan citadal near the edge of Peru's southern jungle on May 10, 2021.

"These bears have always been there," said Machu Picchu mayor Darwin Baca.

The Andean bears, also known as spectacled bears, are the only bears found in South America. They live in the Andes and in outlying mountain ranges, from western Venezuela and down south to Bolivia.

Andean bears are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).