SLOTH BEAR

Melursus ursinus — The Shaggy Fruit-Eater of India’s Forests

Scientific Name

Melursus ursinus

Habitat

Dry forests, scrublands, and grasslands across India and Sri Lanka

Diet

Omnivorous — fruits, termites, honey, and insects

Range

Central, southern, and northeastern India

Conservation Status

Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Estimated Population

~20,000 (India, 2024 estimate)

About the Sloth Bear

The Sloth Bear is a shaggy-coated, insect-loving bear native to the Indian subcontinent. Its name comes from early explorers who mistook its long claws and lumbering gait for those of a sloth. Unlike other bears, it feeds mostly on fruits, termites, and honey, using its flexible lips to vacuum insects from nests.

Sloth bears are mostly nocturnal, emerging at dusk to forage. They play a crucial ecological role by spreading seeds and maintaining termite populations in balance. Mothers are known for carrying cubs on their backs — a rare trait among bears.

Once exploited as dancing bears, they are now protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act (Schedule I). Organizations like Wildlife SOS have worked to end the cruel trade and rehabilitate rescued individuals into sanctuaries.

🐾 A Sloth Bear can smell a termite mound from nearly a kilometer away and tear it open with its powerful claws in seconds.

Data Sources: IUCN Red List • Wildlife SOS • WWF India
Photo Credits: Unsplash / Wikimedia Commons