Andean Bears Walk Along Railway to Machu Picchu: “It’s Their Natural Habitat”

Tourists witnessed a heartwarming scene as they watched a family of Andean bears walking freely and leisurely along the Machu Picchu-Ollantaytambo railroad tracks. The animals also made their way through the forests of the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, in the province of Urubamba, in the Cusco region.

In the footage, which quickly went viral on social media, the mother and her two cubs can be seen walking along the tracks. Then, upon noticing the train approaching, the animals moved out of the way and hid among the bushes near the Vilcanota River. In this way, they avoided an accident.

Their presence is common in the area

Although the incident caught the attention of tourists, Roberto Quispe García explained that the presence of these animals is common in the area. He is a specialist in monitoring and surveillance for the Peruvian National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (Sernanp). He also told Agencia Andina that spectacled bears—as this species unique to South America is also known—are frequently seen there because the area is part of their natural habitat.

As he explained, more than 80% of the sanctuary is inhabited by these mammals. Furthermore, the population exceeds 70 individuals and does not follow a fixed migration route. “The bear inhabits almost the entire territory and moves about as it pleases. Therefore, these areas are connected based on their feeding and breeding seasons,” he said.