Animal Facts - Sloth Bear

Sloth Bear Predators

Sloth Bears usually run away if they hear or smell people.

But they can be surprised when they are looking for food. They concentrate very hard and can’t hear well, so other animals or people can come near without them knowing.

If they feel threatened they can charge, then stop, and stand on their hind legs roaring and waving their claws.

This is a bluff, and if it doesn’t work, they run.

Females will fight to protect their cubs and their claws are sharp and dangerous.

Even though Sloth Bears are good at climbing trees they don’t do this to escape because some predators like the leopard, are good tree climbers too.

Sloth Bears can also be attacked by wild dogs and tigers, but humans are the bears’ worst enemy.

Poachers hunt them for the bile in their livers, which is used in medicine. In some places cubs are captured and raised as performing animals.

Humans are destroying the bears’ habitat to grow more crops and build houses and villages.

When the bears raid the crops because they are hungry, farmers hunt them.

Sloth Bears live in parts of the world where people are poor and struggling to survive, so it’s hard for them to look after animals and protect the environment.

This bear is endangered, but places like the Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary in India and are working at saving its habitat and several zoos are involved in a worldwide breeding program.

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