Tracking Bears in Bolivia

The Andean spectacled bear is lucky that Susanna Paisley switched majors; it might have been on its way to extinction if she had stuck with English.

After just one class with biology professor Lynn Moseley, Paisley knew that science was her destiny.

"Although I have always been interested in nature and conservation, I probably would not have chosen that route academically because I was intimidated by it," Paisley says. "I have to give full credit to Lynn that I even dared to try biology, because that is not where I thought my natural talents were."

Today, Paisley is a wildlife biologist known for her ground- breaking work with the spectacled bear of South America, which got its name from the distinctive white markings around its eyes. It is the only native South American bear and prefers to live high in the Andean cloud forest, which is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world.

As deforestation occurs in the cloud forest, the bears are forced to look elsewhere for food and are often shot by farmers afraid for their crops or livestock. Bear parts, such as the bile, fat and bones, are also highly sought for medicinal uses.

"The Andean bear is a celebrated enigma in the field of biology because it is notoriously difficult to study," Paisley says. " The terrain in which it lives is steep, cold, wet and muddy, and that doesn't appeal to most researchers. saw it as almost mystical, as the Loch Ness monster of the real animal world, and a charismatic creature that reminds me in many ways of humans— animated, curious and highly intelligent."

Paisley spent 10 months baiting the shy bears in hope of humanely trapping them to attach radio transmitting collars. She lived in a tent, enduring torrential rains and bitterly cold nights. Eventually she was successful, becoming the first person to trap a live bear. Simon Bolivar was what she named him, and soon Paisley was tracking his electronic beeps day and night.

Her work has not gone unnoticed. She's been featured on "National Geographic Explorer" and was awarded the prestigious Whitely Award for Animal Conservation, which is given annually by the Royal Geographical Society.

Just last year, Paisley finished her Ph. D. from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent and the Zoological Society of London.

"If I had been at a larger university, I seriously doubt I would have ever pursued biology as a major," says Paisley. "I found the science classes at Guilford to be exciting and stimulating." Paisley remains connected to Guilford and, in a sense, always has been. Her mother, Anne Newton Paisley '54, is a loyal Guilford alumna who would often tell her wonderful stories about her days as a student.

Paisley remembers Guilford as being a place that nurtures and cherishes each student and creates an atmosphere for those eager to learn. "I know a lot of Guilford people who are doing great things in many different walks of life. Some of my best friends are from my days at Guilford."