Tamá, the Andean bear rescued 11 years ago, died on December 17, 2025, during aerial transport to its natural habitat release. The animal suffered respiratory complications after a forced return to Cúcuta airport due to adverse weather conditions. Environmental authorities regret the loss and seek to determine the exact causes.
The liberation operation for Tamá began on December 16, 2025. This Andean bear, rescued 11 years ago, had undergone an extensive rehabilitation process. The project, led by Colombia's National Natural Parks and the Jaime Duque Park Foundation, involved entities such as the Spectacled Bear Sanctuary, Wii Foundation, CAR Cundinamarca, Corpoguavio, Corponor, and Inparques Venezuela. Prepared over three years with constant evaluations, the transport was carried out with specialized medical and technical personnel.
During the December 17 flight, adverse weather conditions prevented landing in the planned release zone, forcing the team to return to Camilo Daza Airport in Cúcuta. At that point, Tamá developed respiratory complications. The veterinary team immediately applied reanimation techniques but received no positive response. The death was confirmed upon arrival at the airport.
Initially, no alerts occurred in the early stages of the transport. Tamá's recovery process included clinical management, veterinary monitoring, and rehabilitation in a controlled environment, complying with environmental protocols. Authorities stated that expert analyses are awaited to pinpoint the exact causes of death and reaffirmed their commitment to wildlife protection, applying ethical and scientific criteria in future procedures.
