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Sloth Bear
A shaggy, long-clawed Indian bear that vacuums up termites through its snout — and one of the forest's most unpredictable animals.
How to spot it
A medium-sized bear with a long, shaggy black coat, a pale V or Y mark on the chest, a long mobile snout and big curved claws. Its lips are loose and can be pushed out, and there is a gap in the front teeth — both tools for feeding on insects.
Where it lives
Forests and scrub across India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, from Rajasthan's rocky hills to the central and southern jungles. It shelters in caves and dense cover through the day.
What it eats
Mainly an insect-eater — it tears open termite mounds and ant nests and sucks up the insects with a loud vacuum-like noise you can hear from far off. It also loves fruit, honey and flowers, especially mahua.
Behaviour & life
Largely nocturnal and usually solitary. Mothers famously carry their cubs on their backs. Despite the gentle diet, it is easily startled and can be dangerously aggressive, and is behind many of India's serious bear encounters.
In India
Protected under Schedule I and classed as Vulnerable. Habitat loss and, historically, its capture as a "dancing bear" hurt the species — a trade India has now ended through rescue and rehabilitation.
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