Sloth Bear

The Sloth Bear is unique in that it feeds predominantly on insects. It is well adapted to its diet with its elongated snout, extraordinarily long tongue as well as it’s the ability to open and close its nostrils. It has inward-facing front paws, and long claws for ripping open termite nests. Its coat is shaggy and long, particularly over the shoulders. It is generally black but can be almost cinnamon in color with a distinctive lighter patch on its chest in a U or V shape. The Sloth Bear lives in tropical areas and prefers forested areas and grasslands.

The Sloth Bear also eats fruits and plants and is, therefore, an important seed disperser. This bear is slow and clumsy but can outrun a human. It is an excellent climber and marks its territory by leaving claw marks on trees. It is usually found solitary or in pairs. The Sloth Bear has an exceptional sense of smell and can locate honey high up in a tree or termite larvae many meters in the ground. The Sloth Bear can reproduce any time of the year; its gestation period is between six and seven months.