Sloth bear

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), also called bahloe, is very similar to the sloth bear, but has unique characteristics that set it apart. The family of bears (Ursidae) consists of eight different species, divided into four genera.

Family Bears (Ursidae)

• Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

• Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

• Malayan bear (Helarctos malayanus)

• Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)

• Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

• Brown bear (Ursus arctos)

• American black bear (Ursus americanus)

• Sloth bear (Ursus thibetanus)

The sloth bear belongs to the other bears. Did you know that Baloo from the Jungle Book is also a sloth bear?

What does a sloth bear look like?

The sloth bear has shaggy, black fur. This fur can grow as long as fifteen inches in some places! Among the characteristics of the sloth bear is its beautiful, white, markings on its chest. The shape of the markings looks a bit like a horseshoe. An adult sloth bear has a shoulder height between sixty and ninety centimeters. Males weigh more than females. Females weigh between 55 and 95 pounds and the male weighs between 80 and 140 pounds.

The bear gets its name, of course, from its unusual lips! But not because of how his lips look, but because of the way he eats with them. The sloth bear's claws are different from those of other bear species. They are very, very long!

Ranger Floor explains his name a little more. Are you watching?

What does a sloth bear eat?

A sloth bear eats mostly insects. With their sharp claws, they open up termite mounds. The sloth bear lacks two front teeth, which allows it to slide its tongue out easily. Once it has made a hole in the mound, it pushes its snout in, purses its lips and slurps up all the termites. Now those are handy lips! This slurping can be heard as far as 185 meters away!

Flowers, honey, fruits and leaves are also on the sloth bear's menu. The sloth bear is an excellent climber so it is also good at getting its food from trees. Because flowers, honey and fruit cannot be found year-round, the sloth bear mainly eats termites. Termites can be found year-round.

Where is the sloth bear found?

The sloth bear is found in the tropical rainforests of South Asia. To be exact, in Inda, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. They were common in Sri Lanka and India, but in recent years they have become increasingly difficult to find there.

Does the sloth bear have enemies?

The only animals the sloth bear might see as enemies are tigers and leopards. Surely the biggest enemy of all is humans, through habitat eradication and hunting of the animals.

Is the sloth bear endangered?

The sloth bear is vulnerable, according to the IUCN Red List. This is because its habitat is shrinking. Termite mounds are also being broken up because the sand from them is being used to build tennis courts. Another major threat is hunting and poaching. Young animals are sometimes captured and trained to become circus bears. Their numbers in the wild are declining rapidly. In South Asia, there are several shelters and foundations for protecting the sloth bear.

The role of zoos is to preserve and protect of endangered species. European parks work closely together to achieve this goal and do so with an management program (EEP). The sloth bear is also part of this. In this way, a healthy reserve population is maintained. Find out more about species conservation and our role here here.

Conservation

Not only sloth bears, but many of the species you see in our park are endangered and struggling in their native habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species threatened with extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how? Then click here.

Lip bears in Safari park Beekse Bergen

In Safaripark Beekse Bergen you can find two sloth bears. You can find them at the back of the park together with the steppe foxes. Will you spot them?

Behavior of the sloth bear

Sloth bears are mainly active at night and often live alone. During the day, they sleep in caves or dens along the river bank. They do not hibernate, but they have a kind of rest period during the rainy season. They also call this a hibernation. A sloth bear cannot hear and see very well. Their sense of smell, on the other hand, is very well developed.

Reproduction

Most mating takes place in May and July. The female makes a den in which the young are born. The sloth bear usually gives birth to one to two cubs. They are born blind and open their eyes after three weeks. The mother stays in the den for nine to 10 weeks and lives off her fat reserves. After two to three months, the cubs and mother come out of the den. Once out, the mother carries the young on her back for about nine more months. After about a year and a half, the cubs are independent and leave their mother.

Is a sloth bear dangerous?

The sloth bear has a bad image among people. It is often portrayed as the most aggressive species of bear. However, this is not the case. In fact, the sloth bear is not aggressive at all. Because people are cutting down the habitat of sloth bears, humans and bears often come face to face. The sloth bear has very poor hearing and vision. Because of this, in many cases it notices humans too late and as a startled reaction it attacks. If the sloth bear does see humans in time, it will flee and will not attack at all. The sloth bear is very shy.

What sound does a sloth bear make?

When a sloth bear feels attacked, it stands upright and starts roaring very loudly! This is to defend itself from danger. You can also hear the slurping sound when they are eating.

Can you hear them in Beekse Bergen?