Perhaps another reason that sloth bears were thought to be sloths was their massive consumption of insects, especially termites. Because termite and ant colonies are an abundant and consistent source of food for sloth bears, they are the only bear specifically adapted for feeding on insects. Then, they blow away the dirt and debris with their long, mobile lips. Finally, with a huge breath, the sloth bear sucks out the termites. Since sloth bears lack their two front incisors and have a hollowed palate, they can quickly remove the insects like a high-powered vacuum.
Sloth bears have an excellent sense of smell, good vision and satisfactory hearing.
Reliance on their sense of smell, rather than sight or hearing, can lead to confrontation between humans and sloth bears. Often, the shy sloth bear's reaction to being startled is to attack savagely with a charge. Woodland Park Zoo's sloth bears can be found along the Trail of Adaptations at the bear grotto facing the North Meadow, next to the Malayan sun bears. Their exhibits provide a multilevel, naturalistic setting that contains major components of their normal habitat. Other species of bear at Woodland Park Zoo include brown bears in the Northern Trail exhibit.