Uncommon Andean bear captured in beautiful {photograph}

Sony World Photography Awards

This magnificent Andean bear friends out from a perch on a mossy department within the Chingaza Ecopalacio Reserve in Colombia. Its shaggy black coat and curled claws have been captured by photographer Sebastian Di Domenico whereas he was guiding hikers within the forest.

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

The bear is believed to be a roughly 5-year-old male newly visiting the world, because it hadn’t been seen earlier than. It might have been drawn to the world 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 as a result of increasing crops, roads and mining has pushed the species (Tremarctos ornatus) to raid crops and kill livestock, prompting individuals 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 picture emphasises the necessity to shield 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 operating at Somerset House, London, from 17 April to 4 May.