The nostrils can be closed voluntarily. It is thought that the reduced hair on the muzzle may be an adaptation for coping with the defensive secretions of termites. They apparently favor drier forests and have been reported to prefer areas with rocky outcrops. Most sloth bears are found in India and Sri Lanka, but they have also been reported from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. In captivity, mating pairs come together for only one or two days during which time there may be considerable vocalizing and fighting.
Gestation lasts from six to seven months.
Most l itters consist of either one or two cubs, but litters of three cubs have been reported. Cubs are born in earth dens and apparently do not leave them until they are two to three months old. The cubs stay with their mothers until they are nearly adult, at two or more years of age. There is little information on social organization, but observations in the wild suggest sloth bears live as solitary individuals, except for females with cubs. Limited observations suggest sloth bears may have small home r anges.