What kind of bear is the Sri Lankan sloth bear?

The Sri Lankan sloth bear is a subspecies of sloth bear found only on the island of Sri Lanka. They have black fur, long claws, a long snout for sucking up termites, and protruding lips.

In English, they are called the 'Sri Lankan sloth bear.' Unlike other bears, they mainly eat insects, like termites and ants. They are also fond of fruit and honey. They are skilled climbers and can sometimes be seen eating fruit or resting high up in trees. They are nocturnal, spending their days resting in tree hollows or bushes and becoming active in the cooler evenings and at night to forage for food and interact with each other.

Why are they called 'sloth bears'?

Sri Lankan sloth bears are called 'sloth bears' because they move slowly, like sloths.

This is because they mainly eat insects, like termites and ants, which are slow-moving. They also spend a lot of time in trees, and hanging from branches is probably more comfortable for them than walking on the ground.

What do Sri Lankan sloth bears eat?

Sri Lankan sloth bears are omnivores, but they mainly eat insects, such as termites and ants.

They use their long claws to break open termite mounds and anthills, and their long tongues to lick up the insects inside. They are also fond of fruit and honey. Being skilled climbers, they can reach fruit high up in trees. They use their keen sense of smell to find fruit and honey. They also sometimes eat small animals and bird eggs.

[Quiz!] Where do Sri Lankan sloth bear cubs grow up?

Sri Lankan sloth bear cubs grow up in their mother's pouch.

Newborn cubs are very small and blind. They immediately crawl into their mother's pouch and stay there for about 6 months, drinking milk and growing. They start peeking out of the pouch at around 3 to 4 months old. By the time they are 6 months old, they can leave the pouch and walk on their own. However, they stay close to their mother for some time after that.

[Quiz!] Do Sri Lankan sloth bears hibernate?

Sri Lankan sloth bears do not hibernate.

They live in tropical regions and don't need to hibernate. Tropical regions are warm year-round and food is plentiful, so they can be active all year without hibernating.

[Quiz!] Are Sri Lankan sloth bears endangered?

Yes, the Sri Lankan sloth bear is listed as 'Vulnerable' (VU) on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List.

This means that they are at high risk of extinction in the near future. Their population is declining due to two main factors:

・Habitat loss: Deforestation due to logging and agricultural development is destroying their forest habitat.

・Human-wildlife conflict: As humans venture into forests for activities like gathering wild vegetables and mushrooms, encounters with bears have increased. This has led to incidents where bears attack humans, or conversely, humans kill bears.

To protect Sri Lankan sloth bears, it is crucial to protect their forest habitat and prevent human-wildlife conflict.