The Life of Animals | Sloth bear | Sloth bears are distinguished from Asian black bears by Their lankier builds, longer, shaggier coat, pale muzzle and white claws. Sloth bear muzzles are thick and long, with small jaws and bulbous snouts with nostrils wide. Sloth bear is completely black fur (rusty for some specimens), save for a whitish Y or V shaped mark on the chest. This feature, the which is also present in Asian black bears and sun bears, is thought to serve as a threat display, as all three species are sympatric with tigers.
Adult sloth bears weigh 100 kg (220 lbs) on average, though variously weight can range from 55 kg (121 lbs) to 190 kg (400 lbs). Cubs are born blind, and Their eyes open after four weeks Sloth bear cubs Quickly develop compared to most other species of bears: Will They start walking a month after birth, Become independent at 24-36 months, and Become sexually mature at the age of 3 years.
Individuals riding positions are maintained by cubs through fighting. Intervals the between litters can last 2-3 years Will occasionally Bengal tigers prey on sloth bears. Tigers sloth bears usually give a wide berth, though some specimens may bear Become habitual killers and it is not uncommon to find sloth bear fur in tiger scats.
When confronted by face to face tigers, sloth bears will of charge at Them, crying loudly. A young, or already satiated tiger Will usually retreat from an assertive sloth bear, as the bear's claws can inflict serious wounds, and most tigers end the hunt if the bears Become aware of the tiger's presence before the pounce. A female bear with cubs was observed to stand its ground and PREVAIL in a Confrontation against two tigers (one female, one male) in rapid succession. Sloth bears may scavenge on tiger kills As tigers are known to mimic the calls of sambar deer to attract Them, sloth bears React fearfully event to the sounds made by Indian leopards deer themselves can also be a threat, as They are Able to follow sloth bears up trees. Will sloth bears occasionally chase leopards from Their kills. Sloth bears are sympatric with Asiatic black bears in Northern India, and the two species, along with the sun bear, co-exist to some of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
Dhole packs sloth bears may attack, though They are not a usual prey items. When attacking sloth bears, dholes Will try to Prevent the bear from retreating in caves. Apparently Asian elephants do not tolerate sloth bears in Their vicinity. The reason for this is unknown, as individual elephants known to maintain composure Their near tigers have been reported to charge the Indian rhinoceros bears have a similar intolerance for sloth bears, and will of charge at Them
