Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) are unique mammals native to the Indian subcontinent, recognized by their shaggy, dark coats and distinctive pale V or Y-shaped markings on their chests. These bears possess long, curved claws and a specialized snout, allowing them to forage for their primary diet. Their diet consists predominantly of insects like termites, ants, and bees, supplemented with fruits and honey. They are adapted to this insectivorous lifestyle, notably lacking upper incisors, which facilitates sucking up insects.
Geographic Distribution
Sloth bears are found across several countries within the Indian subcontinent, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. Their distribution is fragmented across this range. While historically present, they are now considered regionally extinct in Bangladesh.
In India, sloth bears inhabit a broad area, extending from the southern Western Ghats to the Himalayan foothills. This makes India home to a significant portion of their global population. Within Nepal, their presence is largely confined to the Terai lowlands, a region bordering India.
Bhutan also hosts sloth bear populations, primarily in its lowland forests and grasslands along the southern border. Human activities have led to considerable habitat fragmentation, impacting their continuous distribution across these nations.
Preferred Habitats
Sloth bears thrive in a diverse array of environments within their geographic range, typically found at elevations below 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) on the Indian subcontinent and below 300 meters (980 feet) in Sri Lanka. These habitats include moist and dry tropical forests, savannahs, scrublands, and grasslands. They show a preference for drier forest types and areas characterized by rocky outcrops, which provide natural shelters.
These environments are suitable because they offer abundant food sources, particularly termite and ant mounds. The presence of fruit-bearing trees and access to water sources also supports their survival. Their shaggy fur provides a degree of protection against insect bites and helps regulate their body temperature in warm climates.
Regional Presence
Sloth bear characteristics vary regionally. The Sri Lankan sloth bear, Melursus ursinus inornatus, is a subspecies smaller than its mainland counterparts, with shorter body hair and sometimes lacking the prominent chest marking. In Sri Lanka, this subspecies is found in the lowland dry forests.
Conservation efforts focus on protected areas, such as the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Karnataka, India. A substantial portion of the sloth bear population in India resides outside these protected zones, interacting more closely with human-dominated landscapes. In Nepal, while sloth bears are present in protected areas like Chitwan National Park, their numbers are less stable in unprotected regions.