I'm raising £30000 to protect the Spectacled or Andean Bear from extinction

Organised by Blackthorn Rally
Animals and pets

Story

Help save the Spectacled Bear

Action must be taken now; we desperately need your help urgently to support our project to help stop this and protect one of the world’s most iconic and charismatic animals.

For centuries, spectacled bears, named for the cream-coloured rings around their eyes, have roamed the high-altitude moors and dense Andean forests, as well as tropical and subtropical cloud forests in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru.

But the spectacled bear – the species the character Paddington Bear is based on – is now considered vulnerable, according to The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, which assesses the conservation status of different plants and animals. .

Today, there are only an estimated 13,000 to 18,000 bears remaining. About 3,000 to 6,000 of those are in Colombia. Peru has the largest population of spectacled bears.

Activities such as logging, mining, cattle ranching and agricultural expansion have led to deforestation and a loss of habitat for the only bear species native to South America. In some areas, the bears have even been killed – shot by farmers to prevent them from attacking livestock on nearby farms. The bears body fat is believed my some to have medicinal qualities.

Who are we?

We’re a group of ex-British soldiers, some of us have been wounded in recent conflicts, and annually we do the Blackthorn Rally. The rally is a motorsports event with an extended mission to contribute to conservation across the world. This September, our rally will cover a challenging 1500km in the coffee region of Colombia, over the Andes.

We’re collaborating with the Fundacion Tremarctos (Colombian conservation foundation) to take steps to protect the dangerously endangered, ever shrinking, population of the magnificent Spectacled Bear – made famous by Paddington bear! This species is in decline, through hunting and reducing habitat. We’re focussed on the Tolima district, where we believe the total population of bears is 135, and falling, in an area of 24,000 sq km. These bears can’t be found anywhere else in the world than South America and their closest relative is the Panda bear.

We need to raise £30,000 this year to provide surveillance systems, fund 9 area wardens, with transport to protect the bears, and this will allow eco-tourism to be promoted, reducing the reliance on intensive agriculture which in encroaching on the bears habitat. In summary, we’re creating a protected ecosystem.

We really need your help to reach our target asap so we can put everything in place for late September. Please donate now and we will keep you up to date with progress over the coming months.

Every donation counts, no matter the size, and is deeply appreciated. 100% of funds will go to conservation efforts. Our participation is self funded.

● For donations of £60 or more, we will send you a limited-edition Blackthorn Rally cap as a token of our gratitude.

● For donations of £100 or more you’ll receive our limited-edition Blackthorn cap and t-shirt

● For donations over £175 a cap, t-shirt an amazing 2025 10-year Anniversary Blackthorn rally jersey will be sent to you. *

● And for donations over £400 we will send you a cap, t-shirt, rally jersey, and a limited edition 10-year anniversary Blackthorn Rally bottle of Irish Whiskey.

● And for donations over £12,000 you’d be welcome to join this year’s rally as a participant and will have the opportunity to drive with and support one of the seriously wounded veterans. Please leave your details on the donation page so we can contact you for details and post items to you. Check out last years rally in Tanzania by clinking the link below.

https://youtu.be/zoFAeg7Aawk?si=VNNQ2eR1cVilrwQC

Thank you for your support.

Our Track Record

So you are confident in our ability to deliver this project, we’re proud of our successful track record:

● 2021 Desert Adventure: Featured on the BBC iPlayer, this expedition included 20 wounded and injured veterans, aiming to enhance their mental well-being through the thrill of adventure in the Moroccan Sahara. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0015xgf/the-speedshop-series-1-2-morocco

● 2022 Samburu School Project: We delivered over 68 new beds, mattresses, and blankets, and rebuilt accommodation facilities in a remote Northern Kenyan primary school. This project ensures that students can safely board at school, reducing dropout rates significantly.https://youtu.be/TIqF0lPsPhU?si=mJQBRY0cclTJaHAJ

● 2023 Elephant Water Pans Project: In drought-afflicted regions of Kenya, we constructed a series of massive watering pans that now support a herd of 400 elephants. This initiative not only conserves wildlife but also reduces conflicts between the local communities and the elephants, fostering a sustainable ecosystem. https://youtu.be/qgKgcIhnAKI?si=JbloGQyxz3zfz_7w

● 2024 Masai Giraffe Project: In Tanzania the Masai Giraffe are in danger of being wiped out as a species. With less than 25,000 left there they are being killed at a rate of 2500 per year. We worked with the Arusha Giraffe Centre to create an insurance population and to support the education of Tanzanians to understand the risk to this magnificent animal. https://youtu.be/zoFAeg7Aawk?si=VNNQ2eR1cVilrwQC

Thank you very much. Best wishes to all.

* By donating £50 or more, you consent to provide us with your personal details necessary to send your limited edition Blackthorn Rally merchandise. Please note that merchandise design may be different from the concept images shown.

About fundraiser

Blackthorn Rally
Organiser

Donation summary

Total
£7,248.88