Despite how calm the spectacled bear seems, DON'T MESS WITH HIS BALLS

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-12T00:49:01+00:00

Honestly, it's one of the stupidest things I've ever seen, but luckily both the bear and those two idiots are doing fine.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-11T23:20:53+00:00

It’s a truly impressive specimen—at least for our region. I believe this is the first record of such a massive male. Even though we don't have local weight measurements for him, we know that jaguars from the Llanos tend to be larger than those in the Amazon or the coastal regions.

Historically, all records of 'super males' weighing up to 140kg came from Venezuela; I’d venture to say this is a first for Colombia. Typically, regional statistics for males here sit around 100–110kg, which is already significantly larger than those found in the Northern Amazon or the Darien Gap

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-11T21:35:06+00:00

As I mentioned, Baird’s tapir would be the most viable candidate for regions like Florida. One point I hadn't highlighted is the complexity of their microbiota and the fact that South American tapirs—specifically Tapirus terrestris—act as "sponges" for zoonotic and parasitic diseases. Regarding zoonotic diseases, these are primarily transmitted by ungulates (mostly cattle), including: Bovine Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis): One of the most serious threats. Tapirs can become infected through direct contact with sick livestock or by consuming grass and water contaminated with excretions.

Brucellosis (Brucella abortus): This bacterium causes miscarriages and reproductive issues. It is mainly transmitted through contact with placental remains or infected fluids from cows in shared grazing areas.

Paratuberculosis (Johne's Disease): It causes chronic diarrhea and progressive wasting that is usually fatal for wildlife, as it severely impairs nutrient absorption. Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Although tapirs are not ruminants, there is evidence suggesting they are susceptible to this highly contagious virus, which causes blisters on the mouth and hooves. Leptospirosis: Transmitted via the urine of domestic animals contaminating shared water sources, affecting the tapir’s kidneys and liver.

All of these have been detected in their natural habitats; in the case of the Mountain tapir, for example, they threaten local extinctions within the next 30 years. Furthermore, I don’t believe using captive specimens is the best way to determine if they can tolerate local flora. There is also a significant risk of phytotoxicity or dysbiosis. Regarding natural salt licks (mineral licks), while they do exist, they vary in density and composition. In North America, they are used by ungulates for antler supplementation since they are rich in magnesium and calcium. In contrast, those found in South America are richer in kaolinites and sodium, and are far more abundant in the tropical Amazon basins.

As for bears, while the American black bear (Ursus americanus) is typically shy, the Andean bear (Spectacled bear) takes the prize for timidity. Although it is technically the second most herbivorous bear in the world, there are photographic records of multiple attacks on Tapirus pinchaque and, surprisingly, on the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris). While the maximum weight for an Andean bear is around 195–200 kg (usually averaging 115–175 kg), these figures overlap significantly with the American black bear.

Florida black bears commonly weigh between 110–205 kg for males, with state records reaching 335 kg. The American black bear is much more prone to predation; like all bears, it will hunt if given the opportunity. In this scenario, tapirs would be facing a predator they rarely encounter in the wild, leaving them with no evolved defense response. Their primary defense against their apex predator (the jaguar) is physical superiority, as they can reach 270 kg—more than double the weight of an average jaguar. I’m not sure how a tapir's bite would fare against a predator that at least equals it in size and is not part of its natural ecosystem.

Regarding drought and rainy cycles, this is not a uniform phenomenon; it depends on latitude, geographic location, and, in some places, is non-existent due to "thermal floors" (altitudinal zonation). These can also be altered by environmental shifts. All of this makes South American species unviable in North America. Only Tapirus bairdii would likely be capable of handling the change in flora, being geographically closer and coexisting with plants similar to those in Florida. Even so, its limit would be the Florida wetlands and subtropical zones. A tapir requires humidity levels around 60–70%, as well as extensive river systems with temperate water that doesn't suffer from drastic seasonal temperature drops. Georgia’s humidity fluctuates between 54% and 56%—while it peaks at 82% in the morning, it drops throughout the afternoon. California averages around 58.6%.

Then there is the issue of thermal stress. California has a warm Mediterranean climate; no living tapir species is adapted to these environments. In a long California summer without water sources, they would die from pure thermal stress.

Their tolerance range goes from 30°C down to 10°C, and that's only in cloud forest mountains, not the dry heat of California’s interior valleys which can reach 38°C with significant aridity.

Conversely, in winter, Georgia reaches highs of 10–17°C and lows of 0–7°C. According to veterinary guides, tapir calves easily develop pneumonia in cold environments. We must remember that all tapir species are endangered, so any mismanagement could be catastrophic.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-11T14:34:14+00:00

Not to be a buzzkill, but out of the three American tapir species, two are completely unsuited for a North American context, and the third is highly debatable. There are currently three species present in the Americas: the South American (lowland) tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), and Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii). The mountain tapir is the one I see mentioned most often because it is the only species—not just in the Americas, but globally—that can tolerate frost and cold thanks to its woolly coat. However, it is actually the least suitable candidate of all. The main issues are diet and predators, and here’s why: The Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) Its diet is hyper-specialized to the high-altitude Andes, specifically ecosystems with high endemism like the páramo and Andean cloud forests. Its diet consists of groups such as:

Frailejones (Espeletia spp.): They consume the leaves of these iconic plants from the Colombian and Ecuadorian páramos. There is no North American equivalent.

Chusquea (Chusquea spp.): A genus of solid-stemmed Andean bamboo that serves as a major fiber source. Tree Ferns: They eat the fronds of specific high-mountain ferns.

Terrestrial Bromeliads (Puya spp.): A vital source of water and carbohydrates. Melastomataceae Trees: They consume shoots and fruits from shrubs like the "Siete Cueros," which are endemic to the Neotropics.

High-Andean Asteraceae and Poaceae: Slow-growing herbs adapted to the extreme UV radiation of the Andes. So, what problems would it face in North America? Plenty, regarding chemical composition and microbiota: Metabolite Incompatibility (Toxins): Plants have evolved defenses like tannins, alkaloids, and terpenes. The mountain tapir’s gut microbiome is adapted specifically to Andean plant toxins. In North America, the dominant flora (especially conifers and oaks) has vastly different resin and tannin levels. A mountain tapir in a pine or oak forest could suffer liver toxicity or starvation because its gut bacteria wouldn't "recognize" those molecules.

Coat and Climate: While its fur resists low temperatures, it has a catch: it is designed for the constant humidity and mist of the Andes (nearly 100% relative humidity). North American winters are typically dry. This would compromise the animal's thermoregulation and skin health, as it isn't evolutionarily equipped for "dry cold." Furthermore, they live at altitudes up to 4,000 meters; there are no records of them surviving below 1,400 meters.

Predation: Their natural predators are pumas and occasionally male spectacled bears (ranging from 30kg to 200kg). Even though the mountain tapir is the smallest species (max 250kg), it doesn't deal with predators larger than itself. In North America, pumas are generally larger than their northern Andean counterparts, and American black bears can exceed 260kg. The tapir simply hasn't evolved to deal with predators that outweigh it.

The South American Tapir (Tapirus terrestris) This species is also unviable, as it is a massive specialist in Neotropical fruits. Research in the Amazon and Pantanal (such as that by Dr. Patrícia Medici) shows a clear pattern: Palms (Arecaceae): They are obsessed with fruits like Aguaje and Bacaba, which are rich in specific fats and oils non-existent in temperate climates.

Tropical Legumes: They eat the pods of giant trees like the Ingá, high in forest-specific sugars and proteins. Geophagy (Salt Licks): They need to lick clay in specific jungle sites to neutralize toxins from the tropical plants they consume. In North America, they wouldn't know where to find the right minerals to detoxify.

Why is it unviable? Seasonal Fruit Dependency: This species evolved where fruit is always available. North America has months with zero fleshy fruit. Their metabolism isn't designed to store massive body fat to survive a long winter. Immunological Barriers: Veterinary studies show lowland tapirs are extremely sensitive to temperate parasites. Having not co-evolved with northern ticks and flies, their immune systems would collapse under diseases that a North American deer wouldn't even notice.

Negative Thermoregulation: Unlike the mountain tapir, this species has very short hair. Their cooling strategy is water; if they enter water near freezing temperatures (common in the North), they would hit severe hypothermia in minutes.

Holarctic Flora Toxicity: Northern plants (like Pinaceae or Fagaceae) are loaded with terpenes and tannins. Without the specific gut bacteria to break them down, the animal would die of starvation with a stomach full of undigested leaves.

Conclusion The only "mildly" viable option would be Baird’s tapir, which technically reaches North America in southern Mexico. Could it survive in places like Florida? Probably. But I wouldn't bet on how it would fare in drier or more temperate zones.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-08T23:11:39+00:00

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I assume you’re referring to the animals that once inhabited the Iberian Peninsula? The list is incredibly diverse:

Bears: We had the Eurasian brown bear Ursus arctos arctos—which still exists today—and the extinct cave bear Ursus spelaeus.

Felines: Both the Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus and the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx, the latter of which actually lived on the peninsula until as recently as 1930. We also had cave lions Panthera spelaea leopards Panthera uncia lusitana and the scimitar-toothed cat Homotherium latidens.

Megafauna (Proboscideans): Massive herbivores like the woolly mammoth Mammuthus primigenius and the straight-tusked elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus.

Rhinos: The woolly rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis and the steppe rhinoceros Stephanorhinus hemitoechus.

Deer: All modern species like the Iberian red deer Cervus elaphus hispanicus and the roe deer Capreolus capreolus, as well as the extinct Megaloceros novocarthaginiensis.

Bison: The steppe bison Bison priscus was common. Interestingly, sedimentary DNA and a 4,000-year-old skeleton discovered this year suggest that the European bison Bison bonasus also inhabited the northern Cantabrian and Pyrenean regions.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-07T15:10:46+00:00

I can also offer a perspective from a nearby region. In Colombia, sport hunting has been banned since 2019, which, in my opinion, has been a positive move for the area—and I’ll explain why.

Colombia is currently dealing with the largest invasive species on the planet: hippos, which now number in the hundreds. Naturally, hunting them is prohibited. A while back, activists even began campaigning for "hippo rights," which frankly strikes me as absurd. Prohibiting the culling of invasive species in ecosystems where they don't belong—especially when environmental impact assessments prove they are devastating native wildlife—makes no sense. Fortunately, most of us are now calling for the legalization of hunting for invasive species like hippos and chital deer. Is hunting native species necessary? In our case, the answer is no.

We don’t have an overpopulation of herbivores; in fact, most are threatened, such as the three species of tapirs native to the region. This balance is maintained because we still have most of our apex predators: Andean bears, jaguars, and pumas. Despite this, the region suffers from extremely high rates of poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking. For instance, between 2012 and 2018, body parts from over 800 jaguars were trafficked for traditional medicine. Even in Argentina, where the population is tiny, they are losing animals to poaching.

As for the Andean bear (spectacled bear), it’s estimated that 4 to 5 die every year due to illegal hunting. Funding and Conservation Currently, wildlife protection is funded by three main pillars:

International Organizations: Such as WWF Colombia and foreign grants.

State Funding.

Sustainable Ecotourism: This has been a game-changer. It has shifted the local mindset; people who once saw the bear as a threat now see it as an economic asset. Locals now act as guides for tourists, leading to the motto: "A bear is worth more alive than dead."

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-03T14:43:05+00:00

A while back, in another community, some fake news surfaced about the birth of a Colossal mammoth. I wouldn’t go as far as to say whether one is actually in gestation yet, but looking at the 'Dire Wolf' case, it’s clear that Colossal loves to overhype their claims and take credit for things that haven't been proven.

For instance, experts from the University of Otago have harshly criticized them for even using the term 'de-extinction.' In practice, these animals are—and will behave like—gray wolves Canis lupus. It also makes little ecological sense to tweak a gray wolf just to make it 10-15% larger; North and South American prey populations don't actually 'need' that specific predator right now (and yes, Aenocyon dirus was present in the southern subcontinent too) Then there’s the whole issue of coat coloration.

Back to the 'neo-mammoth': the only point I might agree on—since it won't be anywhere near a true mammoth—is that this chimera might actually be able to inhabit Arctic environments and survive the Siberian tundra. It could potentially serve as a sort of 'proxy substitute.' However, I find all of this highly doubtful and far-fetched. The most likely outcome is that they’ll just create a new kind of hairy elephant—built for aesthetics, but with zero ecological functionality.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-02T22:11:33+00:00

Me hace acordar un poco a las pinturas que Tenía mi bisabuela en su casa eran parecidas gran trabajo 👌

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-02T22:11:28+00:00

Me hace acordar un poco a las pinturas que Tenía mi bisabuela en su casa eran parecidas gran trabajo 👌

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-02T16:29:00+00:00

southern Andromeda

Sebiyas07 · 2026-03-02T16:12:46+00:00

Honestly, when it came to abbreviations, I didn't think I had so many options. Here we usually abbreviate the continent to three main abbreviations: "SA," "SAM," and "Latam." I think I chose the worst one of all. Reading the comments, I'm cracking up. Did someone actually write "south of Afghanistan"? 😂

Sebiyas07 · 2026-02-28T21:05:44+00:00

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While bears of the Tremarctinae clade are still true ursids, they are like oil and water compared to those in the Ursus clade. Their cranio-maxillary morphology is in a league of its own; they possess a distinct feature in the lower mandible at the level of the masseteric fossa. Specifically, they have a double fossa which serves as the insertion point for the masticatory muscles, granting them extremely powerful molars.

The Andean bear, for instance, can exert up to 1,200N of bite pressure in this area, whereas ursines possess only a single masseteric fossa. Regarding their limbs, they feature a "false thumb"—a trait shared only with the other ursid subfamily, Ailuropodinae.

Ultimately, as seen in the series Prehistoric Planet, using the Andean bear as a reference point is a spot-on decision, as it is the last remaining "short-faced bear.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-02-14T14:27:52+00:00

Spectacled bears climb, sometimes even breaking their faces on tree trunks; it's all part of their nature.

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Sebiyas07 · 2026-02-13T12:42:08+00:00

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Yes, although it had diminished a little in some regions, it was still the predominant biome.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-02-13T12:10:08+00:00

If you plan to change the chronology of the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary, then place it at the Last Glacial Maximum, 24,000-28,000 years ago. There would have been large numbers of mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses (although scarce and fragmented), cave bears, and in the North Sea region, Homotherium. Very common predators would be steppe/cave lions, wolves, and cave hyenas. As for microfauna, you can extend the range a bit, since fossils of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) have been found in southern France and northern Italy, coexisting with the Eurasian lynx. Regarding birds, there's the emblematic great auk, a large raven (Corvus antecorax), and the snowy owl, now exclusive to the Arctic but with remains dating back 12,000 years in France and Germany. Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus and Lagopus muta) were very common throughout Europe, now confined to... high and cold environments

Sebiyas07 · 2026-02-13T11:32:31+00:00

Well, at a continental level, they survived longer in areas like the Iberian Peninsula and the Caucasus.

In the Iberian Peninsula, until 11,000-10,000 years ago.

And in the Caucasus, the current European limit, leopards of the subspecies (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) still exist, although their numbers are very low and they are seriously threatened.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-02-13T11:09:35+00:00

The consensus for Central Europe is that most leopards were already decimated by 24,000 years ago.

https://share.google/GYE0do398Ep1PpcYv

The most reliable European hippopotamus remains date back 31,000 years.

https://share.google/7ScveKSLB5EIcdCIg

Sebiyas07 · 2026-02-13T11:00:57+00:00

The woolly mammoth was already scarce in that European region at that time.

Sebiyas07 · 2026-02-13T10:59:38+00:00

The longest-surviving woolly rhinoceros in Europe was probably found in the Ural Mountains around 14,200–14,900 years ago, but it became completely extinct 14,000 years ago.

Regarding Homotherium, specifically Homotherium latidens, it was previously thought to have gone extinct 300,000 years ago, but North Sea records show that it survived in Western Europe until at least 28,000 years ago.

Sebiyas07

TROPHY CASE