A rare Andean bear captured in an amazing photo

Sony World Photography Awards

This gorgeous Andean bear peeks out from its perch on a mossy branch in the Chingaza Ecopalacio Reserve in Colombia. Her bushy black coat and curled claws were captured by photographer Sebastian Di Domenico as she guided tourists through the forest.

“Suddenly one of the group pointed to a bear above us,” says Di Domenico, whose photo was shortlisted for this year’s Sony World Photography Awards.

The bear is believed to be an approximately 5-year-old male that is new to the area as it has not been seen before. It could have been drawn to the area by a friend, says Di Domenico. “There was another bear in a tree nearby that day, so we actually think they may have been mating in the trees.”

Habitat loss due to expanding crops, roads and mining has unfortunately displaced this species (Tremarctos ornatus) to attack crops and kill livestock, prompting people to hunt illegally. “This bear can be seen from Venezuela to Bolivia, but most of its historical range has been altered by human activity,” says Di Domenico. The species is now classified as “vulnerable” to extinction International Union for Conservation of Nature.

For Di Domenico, the image highlights the need to protect the bear. “Such a sighting is very unusual, so the opportunity to portray not only a species but also its unique environment can send a powerful message,” he says. “This is the only bear species in South America and is the symbolic animal of the tropical Andes.”

The Sony World Photography Awards 2026 the exhibition runs at Somerset House in London from 17 April to 4 May.

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