sloth bear walking on grassland
The sloth bear is a myrmecophagous bear native to the Indian subcontinent, uniquely adapted to feed on insects — particularly termites and ants. It has a long, bare snout, flexible lips, and a gap in its front teeth through which it can forcefully suck up insects from mounds. Sloth bears are also known for carrying their cubs on their backs, a behaviour unique among bears.
Average Length
1.8 m
Average Weight
110 kg
Lifespan
20-25 years
Top Speed
40 km/h
WildAtlas insight
High elusiveness
This species is naturally difficult to observe in the wild, even where it is known to occur.
Why this grade?
These are some of the biological and behavioral factors, among others, that WildAtlas considers when deriving this species level grade.
- Animal group
- Mammal
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Nocturnal
- Social behavior
- Solitary
This proprietary WildAtlas grade describes the animal in general and stays the same across parks. It is separate from park level insights, which depend on local conditions and data.
Quick Facts
Sloth bears have a specialised lower lip and palate to vacuum up termites and ants.
They are the only bears known to routinely carry their cubs on their backs.
Despite poor eyesight, sloth bears have excellent hearing and smell.
They were the inspiration for Baloo the bear in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.
Habitat & Range
Habitats
Regions
Behavior & Reproduction
Activity Pattern
Nocturnal
Social Structure
Solitary
Gestation Period
7 months
Litter Size
2
Predators
Tigers, Leopards, Humans
Found in Parks
Where should you look for sloth bear? Explore each park's biome, habitat, and local conditions. Population, density, and sighting trends will shape future park specific insights.
Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve
Karnataka
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Jim Corbett National Park
Uttarakhand
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Ranthambore National Park
Rajasthan
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Kanha National Park
Madhya Pradesh
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Manas National Park
Assam
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Melghat Tiger Reserve
Maharashtra
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Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Bihar
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Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve
Maharashtra
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Simlipal National Park
Odisha
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Kuno National Park
Madhya Pradesh
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Indravati National Park
Chhattisgarh
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Bandhavgarh National Park
Madhya Pradesh
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Periyar National Park
Kerala
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Dudhwa National Park
Uttar Pradesh
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Panna National Park
Madhya Pradesh
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