Which bear species builds tree platforms for feeding and resting?

The spectacled bear builds tree platforms for feeding, resting, and sometimes storing food. Also called the Andean bear, it is native to the cloud forests and highlands of the Andes in South America.

These bears are unusually capable climbers. After ascending a tree, they may bend or break branches into a sturdy platform. The structure gives them a safe place to rest, conceal themselves, reach fruit, and handle food away from competitors or ground-level threats.

A common mix-up is assuming that any bear known to climb trees builds these platforms regularly. American black bears, Asian black bears, and sun bears are also skilled climbers, but the distinctive platform-building behavior in this question points to the spectacled bear. It is also the only living bear species native to South America.

Spectacled bears eat mainly plants, including bromeliads, fruit, palm nuts, bamboo hearts, and tree bark. Despite their mostly herbivorous diet, they can occasionally eat insects, carrion, or small and even surprisingly large animals.