The Sloth Bear makes its home in India, from Sri Lanka to Nepal, Bangladesh and the base of the Himalayas. They live in various habitats from humid tropical forests in the south, to dry thorn forests and grasslands, but prefer the deciduous tall grass forests of central India.

aka: Indian Bear

(250 lbs and 6 feet in length)

Excellent climbers, they forage both in trees and on the ground. Observation of their arboreal habits caused hunters in India to mistakenly conclude that this animal was a relative of the South American Sloth and so for a time it was called a Bear Sloth.

The Sloth Bear has the longest, shaggiest coat of all the bears, which can make it look a lot bigger than it actually is. Its fur always seems to be sticking out in all directions.

A Sloth Bear’s face is its most distinguishing feature, adapted for dining on ants and termites. The muzzle varies from dirty white to gray. The lips are extremely protruded (it is sometimes called the ‘Lip Bear’) and its nostrils can be opened and closed at will. It has few molar teeth and no front teeth at all and a hollowed out, bony plate. The lack of significant hair on its face may protect the bear against the sticky secretions of beleaguered termites.

To get at its staple food, the Sloth Bear smashes a hole into a mound or rotten log. It puckers up and blows violently to clean the surrounding area. Then it closes its nostrils and uses its mouth as a tube to suck up the termites and larvae with an ear-slitting huffing and puffing, vacuuming sound that is so loud, it can be heard 200 yards away!

Sloth Bears also eat other insects, eggs, honeycomb, sugar cane, maize, yams, flowers, fruits and berries and other plant matter. Carrion consumption is usually limited to a carcass already picked clean by another carnivore such as a tiger.

During the hottest months, these bears drink more water than most animals, perhaps because of their insect and honey intake.

Sloth Bears’ faces can look quite fierce and unattractive when play fighting, as their flexible snouts get all crinkled up.

Unlike most bears, the Sloth Bears are gregarious and seem to enjoy the company of their own kind. Even adult males have been observed foraging together with their families. Sloth Bears are also extremely vocal and spend many hours communicating with other bears with roars, squeals, yelps, huffs, puffs and gurgles.

Sloth Bear sows carry their babies on their backs (until they are up to two and a half years old or 1/3 of its size) while they are off searching for food.

Sloth Bears do not hibernate, but will retreat to dens dug out under boulders or in caves during the monsoon season or to give birth.

The population of Sloth Bears in the world is believed to be less than 25,000. They are considered threatened or vulnerable. They are protected in some areas although their numbers appear to be decreasing outside of these protected areas. Deforestation and human settlement is causing habitat loss. Sloth Bears have been killed by poachers for their paws and gall bladders, penis bones (for sexual impotence) and for their fat (as hair restorer). They were captured in India for entertainment and were trained to dance and perform simple tasks.

Written for The Bear Club by Evelyn Kirkaldy of the Get Bear Smart Society (www.bearsmart.com)