Rare Andean bear captured in stunning photograph

Sony World Photography Awards

This magnificent Andean bear peers out from a perch on a mossy branch in the Chingaza Ecopalacio Reserve in Colombia. Its shaggy black coat and curled claws were captured by photographer Sebastian Di Domenico while he was guiding hikers in the forest.

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

The bear is believed to be a roughly 5-year-old male newly visiting the area, as it hadn’t been seen before. It may have been drawn to the area by a mate, says Di Domenico. “That day, there was another bear on a tree close by, so we actually think they might have been mating up in the trees.”

Sadly, habitat loss due to expanding crops, roads and mining has pushed the species (Tremarctos ornatus) to raid crops and kill livestock, prompting people to illegally hunt them. “This bear can be seen from Venezuela to Bolivia, but most of its historical range has been altered by human activities,” says Di Domenico. The species is now classed as “vulnerable” to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

For Di Domenico, the image emphasises the need to protect the bear. “Getting sightings like these is very uncommon, so having the opportunity to portrait not only the species but its unique habitat can send a powerful message,” he says. “This is the only bear species in South America and it’s an emblematic animal in the tropical Andes.”

The Sony World Photography Awards 2026 exhibition is running at Somerset House, London, from 17 April to 4 May.