Sloth Bear

April 21, 2023

The Kerala forest department has come under intense criticism after it bungled the rescue of a male sloth bear that had fallen into the well.

About Sloth Bear:

Sloth bears are one of the eight bear species found across the world.
Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus
Distribution:
- Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal.
- 90% of the global Sloth Bear population is found in India.
Habitat: They live in a variety of dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter.
Features:
- They have long, shaggy dark brown or black fur and curved claws, which are the longest out of any of the bear species.
- They use their claws to excavate termites and ants.
- Size: 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, 90 to 140 kilograms.
- They have poor senses of sight and hearing but a good sense of smell.
- Sloth bears' nostrils can close completely, protecting the animals from dust or insects when raiding termite nests or beehives.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1