1. Spectacled Bear Comes Back to Reserve in Ecuador….

2. What do you think you know about bears?

3. DID YOU KNOW? I don’t wear glasses – The white coloured fur around my eyes makes it look like I do! I only live in South America. Do you know where that is? An adult female bear could give birth to 1 or 2 cubs. I am smaller than other bears. I’m still in danger! I’m great at climbing trees and I eat nuts, fruits and leaves.

4. Spectacled Bear Comes Back to Reserve in Ecuador…. A family of Spectacled Bears have been spotted near to Maquipucuna lodge, located in one of the largest reserves in Ecuador. This is the first time in nearly eight years that bears have been spotted in the area. The local people were extremely excited by the spotting. They even took photos and made T-shirts to wear! ‘Maquipucuna’ means ‘gentle hand’ and this definitely describes the attitude of the people towards their rainforest. The lodge opened in 1998 to help protect the forest. They grow crops and teach people how to look after the rainforest. The area around the lodge is a wildlife ‘hotspot’, one of only two in Ecuador and thirty five in the World.

5. Everyone at the lodge recycles Any money they earn goes back to the local people. Everyone works together and shares their skills. The lodge building was built only with wood and other natural materials. Cleaning equipment used in the lodge is biodegradable. Schools from Quito (Ecuador’s capital city) visit to learn about sustainability and the role of the forest.

6. Hedgehog numbers are falling in Wales. Some people say that they will be gone by 2025! Think about the actions of the people at Maquipucuna lodge. Are there any of their actions that you can follow? Help your teacher develop a nature area. How can you be kinder to your environment? www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/schools Find out more about the plants and animals in your area! ‘Looking after Hawthorn Hedgehog’ – NGfL Cymru resource