Sloth Bear

The sloth bear is a medium-sized bear native to the Indian subcontinent, found in forests, grasslands and scrub across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, distinguished by shaggy black fur, a pale, U- or Y-shaped chest mark and unusually long, curved claws. It is highly specialized for feeding on insects, particularly termites and ants, which it excavates from mounds using its powerful claws and then sucks up through a gap in its front teeth and a long, flexible tongue, a feeding technique that produces a distinctive loud slurping sound audible from a distance. Fruit, especially the flowers and fruit of certain native trees, also makes up a substantial part of its diet seasonally. Sloth bears are mostly nocturnal and, unusually among bears, cubs are sometimes carried on their mother back rather than walking alongside her. The species has a reputation for aggression toward humans when startled at close range, a consequence of its poor eyesight, and it is classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and historical hunting.