Sloth Bear

== Description ==
The Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation. When their territories are encroached upon by humans, Sloth bears sometimes attack them. Historically, humans have drastically reduced these bears' habitat and diminished their population by hunting them for food and products such as their bacula and claws. Sloth bears have been tamed and used as performing animals and as pets.
== Appearance ==
Sloth bears have been called "labiated bears" because of their long lower lip and palate used for sucking insects. Their long lower lips can be stretched over the outer edge of their noses, and they lack upper incisors, thus allowing the bears to suck up large numbers of insects. Sloth bears have long, shaggy fur, a mane around the face, and long, sickle-shaped claws. Their fur is completely black (rusty for some specimens) with a whitish Y- or V-shaped mark on the chest. The fur does not have an undercoat, thus keeping Sloth bears cool in the tropical climate and protecting them from insects. Females in this species are smaller than males and typically have more fur between their shoulders.
== Distribution ==
Sloth bears are found in India, the southern lowlands of Nepal, and Sri Lanka. They live in a wide range of habitats including wet and dry tropical forests, savannahs, scrublands, and grasslands.
== Lifestyle ==
Sloth bears are generally solitary animals, however, they are sometimes seen in pairs. They are nocturnal, though females become more active in the daytime when with cubs. Sloth bears do not hibernate. They make their day beds out of broken branches in trees and rest in caves during the wet season. Sloth bears walk in slow, shambling motion but are capable of galloping faster than running humans. Although they appear slow and clumsy, Sloth bears are excellent climbers. They may climb to feed and to rest, though not to escape enemies, as they prefer to stand their ground. Females carry their cubs up trees as the primary defense against attacks by predators instead of sending them up trees. To mark their territories, they scrape trees with their forepaws and rub against them with their flanks. Sloth bears are very vocal and communicate with the help of barks, screams, grunts, roars, snarls, whickers, and woofs. Yelps are made when bears are angered, threatening, or when fighting. When hurt or afraid, they shriek, yowl, or whimper. Sounds such as gurgling or humming are made by bears resting or sucking their paws. Females emit crooning sounds to their cubs.
== Diet ==
Sloth bears are omnivorous, mainly myrmecophagous animals. They are expert hunters of termites and ants, which they locate by smell. They also supplement their diet with fruit, honey, and plant matter.
== Reproduction ==
Little is known about the mating system of Sloth bears. The breeding season varies according to the location: in India, they mate in April, May, and June, and give birth in December and early January, while in Sri Lanka, it occurs all year. Females gestate for 210 days and typically give birth in caves or in shelters under boulders. Litters usually consist of 1 or 2 cubs, or rarely 3. Cubs are born blind and open their eyes after 4 weeks. Sloth bear cubs develop quickly compared to most other bear species: they start walking a month after birth, become independent at 24-36 months, and become reproductively mature at the age of 3 years. Young cubs ride on their mother's back when she walks, runs, or climbs trees until they reach a third of her size. Individual riding positions are maintained by cubs through fighting. Intervals between litters can last 2 to 3 years.
== Population ==
=== Population threats ===
Historically, humans have drastically reduced the habitat of Sloth bears and diminished their population by hunting them for food and products such as their bacula and claws. Their habitat was lost due to destruction, fragmentation, over-grazing, extraction of minerals, human settlements, and expansion of agricultural areas, and roads. Sloth bears were also captured and used as performing pets.
=== Population number ===
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of Sloth bears is around 20,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
=== Ecological niche ===
Sloth bears play an important part in ecosystems due to their effects on fruits and insects. They help spread the seeds of plants that they eat and they also eat big amounts of termites controlling their population growth.
== Fun Facts ==
Sloth bears are the only bears that constantly carry their babies on their backs.
When feeding, Sloth bears make loud huffing and sucking noises, which can be heard over 100 m away.
Nostrils of Sloth bears can close completely, thus protecting the animals from dust or insects when they raid termite nests or beehives.
Sloth bears are good swimmers and primarily enter the water to play.
Sloth bears are extremely fond of honey. When feeding their cubs, mothers regurgitate a mixture of half-digested jackfruit, wood apples, and pieces of honeycomb. This sticky substance hardens into a dark yellow, circular, bread-like mass which is fed to the cubs. This "bear's bread" is considered a delicacy by some of India's natives.
== Gallery ==
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== Main References ==
https://animalia.bio/sloth-bear
Category:Animals
Category:Animalia
Category:Chordata
Category:Vertebrata
Category:Vertebrates
Category:Mammals
Category:Mammalia
Category:Carnivora
Category:Caniformia
Category:Ursidae
Category:Melursus
Category:Nocturnal Animals
Category:Omnivores
Category:Myrmecophagous
Category:Terrestrial Animals
Category:Altricial Animals
Category:Zoochorous Animals
Category:Viviparous Animals
Category:Territorial Animals
Category:Arboreal Animals
Category:Generally Solitary Animals
Category:Non-Migrational Animals
Category:Asian Animals
Category:South Asian Animals
Category:Animals of India
Category:Animals of Nepal
Category:Animals of Sri Lanka
Category:Vulnerable Animals
Category:Bears