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Latin America Professional Award Shortlist
The Return of The Andean Bear
Sebastian Di Domenico
Series description
The Andean bear is the only bear species in South America and is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In Colombia, the largest population of the species can be found just two hours’ drive from Bogota, close to Chingaza National Park. While these curious animals are more herbivorous than many other bear species, they will occasionally kill cattle which attracts more bears into the area and increasingly puts them in contact with locals and visitors. Tourism initiatives and education might hold the key to ensuring a safe future for one of the most important Andean bear populations in Colombia.
Fascination
Alejandro is from a family of farmers and cattle ranchers who have lived close to Chingaza National Park for more than 50 years. They have turned their property into a wildlife reserve and now focus on tourism centred on the bears that live around their property. Alejandro has developed a special understanding of the species.
© Sebastian Di Domenico, Colombia, Shortlist, Latin America Professional Award, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Hope
A group of children from a school inside the mountain region learn about the paramo ecosystem and the species that they share the land with. Some of them have pledged to protect the Andean bear, or ‘the guardian of the mountain’ as many of them call it.
© Sebastian Di Domenico, Colombia, Shortlist, Latin America Professional Award, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Close Encounters
A group of tourists visiting the park come face to face with a juvenile Andean bear who tries to steal food from their bike. These animals are not as aggressive as their North American relatives, but encounters like this can potentially lead to incidents that could trigger negative feelings towards the species.
© Sebastian Di Domenico, Colombia, Shortlist, Latin America Professional Award, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Growing Problems
A female Andean bear and her cubs feed on a cow carcass. Other bears will be attracted by the rotting meat, leading to more individuals learning that cows are a potential source of food. This can increase the chance of future attacks, as a single carcass can attract up to 10 different bears.
© Sebastian Di Domenico, Colombia, Shortlist, Latin America Professional Award, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The Gardener of the Mountains
Andean bears are mostly vegetarian and around these paramos they are usually seen eating Puya plants, berries and frailejones. Their presence is vital, as they not only control plant populations, but also disperse seeds across the mountains.
© Sebastian Di Domenico, Colombia, Shortlist, Latin America Professional Award, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The Heart of the Andes
Andean bears close to Bogota lack the distinctive ‘spectacles’ that give them their alternative name, ‘the spectacled bear.’ Instead, they tend to have darker faces with small markings, resembling their relative, the black bear. This portrait is of one of the photographer's favourite bears and was taken during the golden hour.
© Sebastian Di Domenico, Colombia, Shortlist, Latin America Professional Award, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Above the Clouds
The paramo ecosystem in the high Andean mountains is the last place to offer a suitable habitat for the Andean bears, but increased infrastructure, such as roads and agriculture have interrupted some of the routes the bears usually take, reducing their access to the plants they feed on.
© Sebastian Di Domenico, Colombia, Shortlist, Latin America Professional Award, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The Guardian of the Paramo
Andean bears used to be a rare sight in Colombia, but over the past 10 years there have been increased sightings close to Chingaza National Park. Although this has given some people the chance to benefit from tourism, others have been adversely affected by the bears’ increased presence.
© Sebastian Di Domenico, Colombia, Shortlist, Latin America Professional Award, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards