Image by Lasitha Kulatileke, Pixabay
Introduction of Sloth Bear
Sloth Bears, also known as Honey Bear or Bhalu.
Sloth Bears inhabit tropical and subtropical India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Sloth Bears are smaller compared to the rest of the Indian subcontinent.
Sloth Bear found in a wide range of habitats, including savanna, forest, and sloppy lands. However, they prefer forest areas with high grasslands that provide dense cover.
They are slow-moving animals. Sloth Bears have weak sight and hearing senses. However, they have a strong and accurate sense of smell.
Sloth bears have been listed on the IUCN’s Red List as Vulnerable.
Sloth Bears can run at 30 km /hrs for short duration.
Scientific Name of Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus
Physical Description of Sloth Bear
A sloth bear generally grows up to 6 ft in height.
An adult male sloth bear weighs between 80 and 140 kg, while the females weigh between 55 and 95 kg.
Sloth bears have a black coat with long furs.
Sloth Bears are having mane in their face.
Sloth Bears have a distinctive yellowish-white or chestnut brown, U or Y shaped patches on their chests. However, Sri Lankan Sloth Bears are not having this mark.
The heavy coat helps them to deal with cold climates.
Sloth Bears have large paws.
Among other species of bears, Sloth Bears have the longest tail.
They are the only bear family with hair in their ears.
Life Cycle of Sloth Bear
Sloth bears live up to 40 years of age.
The gestation period of a female sloth bear generally lasts for seven months. Generally two puppies and rare three puppies born together.
The young ones are called cubs, and they often ride their mother’s backs.
The newborns stay in the den for 2 to 3 months .
Offsprings stay by their mother’s side for the first 2 years.
After their birth, sloth bears are blind for about 4 weeks.
Male bears are not known to participate in parental care.
Characteristics of Sloth Bear
Sloth bears are nocturnal animals. However they are seen in day time as well, mainly during nursing period.
Sloth bears are excellent climbers. But they prefer land over trees.
Sloth bears are not known to hibernate; however, they usually have a period of inactivity during the rainy season.
Sloth bears are known to emit noisy grunts and snorts.
Sloth bears are known to be solitary animals and are seldom found in packs. However, during mating sessions, adult pairs roam together.
Sloth Bears mark their territory by paw marks on trees.
Sloth Bears become highly aggressive in front of predatory animals like tigers or leopards. In recent days, photography evidence shows an unmatched fight between a mother bear and two tigers.
They stand on two legs in a fight and use their front claws as attack weapons.
Diet of Sloth Bear
Sloth bears primarily feed on ants and termites (myrmecophagy).
Sloth bears use their curved, long claws to penetrate nest mounds of ants and termites. Once a hole is opened, sloth bears blow away excess dirt and suck the insects. They keep the soil from getting into their nose through their ability to close them voluntarily.
Sloth Bear breaks honeycomb and eats honey. Their long far protects them from honeybees.
They also eat leaves, fruits and flowers.
