Sloth Bears

Time to learn about another bear, this week we have the sloth bear, also known as the Indian bear, is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. It feeds on fruits, ants and termites. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation. It is the only species in the genus Melursus.

Sloth bears have shaggy, dusty-black coats; pale, short-haired muzzles; and long, curved claws which they use to excavate termites and ants. A cream-colored “V” or “Y” shape usually marks their chests. Their shaggy fur does not have an undercoat, so it keeps them relatively cool in their native, warm climate and protects them from tropical insects. Sloth bears' nostrils can close completely, protecting the animals from dust or insects when raiding termite nests or beehives. They have a keen sense of smell, as well as near-sight similar to that of humans.

Adult sloth bears are missing their top two front teeth (incisors), which enables them to suck up termites and other insects with ease. Due to their diet of insects and fruit, their premolars and molars are smaller than those of other bears, but they have large canines to use for defence. It is thought that their feet are turned inward to increase digging efficiency.

They grow 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters) long, stand 2 to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 meters) high at the shoulder, and weigh, on average, 200 to 300 pounds (90 to 140 kilograms).

They live in a variety of dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter. Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal.

They are noisy, busy animals. They grunt and snort as they pull down branches to get fruit, dig for termites and ants, or snuffle under debris for grubs and beetles.

If threatened, they will stand on two legs, brandishing their clawed forepaws as weapons. Their large canines are used for defence against tigers. Other potential predators include jackals, wild dogs, wolves, leopards and other Asian bear species.

They are considered myrmecophagous. They feed on termites, ants, also when trees are in fruit, usually during the monsoon season, sloth bears dine on mango, fig, ebony and other fruits, as well as on flowers.

Termites, dug out of their cement-hard nest mounds, and some ants are year-round staples. During non-fruiting season, insects constitute 95 percent of a sloth bear's diet. Sloth bears climb trees and knock down honeycombs, later collecting the honey from the forest floor. Beetles, grubs and other insects round out their diet. During food shortages, sloth bears will eat carrion. They also sometimes raid farm crops.

These bears adapt their sleep-wake cycle to their environment and may be on a nocturnal, diurnal or crepuscular schedule depending on how many other bears, people or predators share their habitat. In protected areas, for example, sloth bears may be more active during the day. Sloth bears are typically active for about eight to 14 hours each day, and they do not hibernate. At the Zoo, they tend to keep a crepuscular schedule, meaning they are active in both the morning and evening but sleep midday and overnight.

Theys are considered solitary, although they are occasionally seen in groups when resources are plentiful.

They only come together during breeding season. The female uses delayed implantation to decide the best time for her pregnancy and birthing. The female will then remain in a den for 6-7 months until she gives birth. The most common number of cubs is 2. After the mother and cubs leave the den, the cubs will ride on the mother’s back and cling to her long fur. No other bear species does this. As they grow, the cubs will begin to walk on the ground. The female nurses the cubs for one year and they will stay with mom for up to 2.5 years.

While not typically aggressive towards humans, can exhibit defensive aggression when surprised or feeling threatened, leading to attacks. These attacks are usually a result of the bear's defence mechanism and not predatory behaviour. Sloth bears are often involved in human-wildlife conflict due to habitat encroachment and encounters in agricultural areas.