Sloth bear

The sloth bear (*Melursus ursinus*) is a bear species native to the Indian subcontinent, especially India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a bear species native to the Indian subcontinent, especially India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It is an insect-eating bear known for its long snout, shaggy coat, and habit of carrying cubs on its back. The species is classified as Vulnerable and its wild population is estimated at fewer than 20,000 animals.

Taxonomy and naming

Sloth bears are the only species in the genus Melursus and belong to the bear family Ursidae. Their common name comes from early European observers, but they are not related to sloths and are not slow-moving animals.

Description

Sloth bears have a long, shaggy coat, a pale or whitish chest mark, a long snout, and long curved claws. These features help them forage efficiently for insects and other food.

Range and habitat

The species lives in tropical and subtropical habitats across the Indian subcontinent, including dry and wet forests and some grasslands. Their range is centered in India, with populations also in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Diet and behaviour

Sloth bears are myrmecophagous, meaning they specialize in eating ants and termites, but they also consume fruit, honey, eggs, carrion, and vegetation. They are mostly solitary and are active mainly at night.

Conservation

Sloth bears are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Major threats include habitat loss, degradation, and poaching, and the global wild population is estimated at fewer than 20,000.