21. Sloth Bear - Keep The Wild Alive - National Wildlife Federation Like other bears, sloth bears are threatened by habitat loss due to human encroachment. Asa result, sloth bears are protected under Appendix I of CITES. http://www.nwf.org/keepthewildalive/slothbear.cfm

Home Contact Us Search Conservation ... Get Outdoors Get Newsletter All States AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Your privacy Sloth Bear The sloth bear is found in the forests and grasslands of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. It has a black, shaggy coat with a cream colored "U"- or "Y"-shaped patch of fur on its chest. Adult sloth bears lack upper incisors, which creates a gap in their mouths. The bears extend their long lower lips through this gap to form a tube for feeding. They then suck up termites and ants, a primary food source, through this tube, making loud sucking noises that can be heard from over 350 feet away. Sloth bears can also close their nostrils at will, which is thought to be an adaptation to defend against termites and ants. Other items in the sloth bear's diet include fruit, eggs, insects, and honeycomb. Like other bears, sloth bears are threatened by habitat loss due to human encroachment. In Bangladesh alone, for example, the human population has almost tripled since 1950, and this growth has had a significant impact on the resources available to the sloth bear. Heavy poaching for the medicinal market is also taking its toll on the sloth bears population. As a result, sloth bears are protected under Appendix I of CITES. Natural predators such as wild dogs, tigers, and leopards sometimes prey on juvenile sloth bears, posing an additional threat to this species. Back to Bears of the World useValue = location.href; document.write('');

22. Bears Of The World - Keep The Wild Alive - National Wildlife Federation Adult sloth bears lack upper incisors, which creates a gap in their mouths. The bearsextend their long lower lips through this gap to form a tube for feeding. http://www.nwf.org/keepthewildalive/bearsoftheworld.cfm

Home Contact Us Search Conservation ... Get Outdoors Get Newsletter All States AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Your privacy Bears of the World Click on the links below to learn about each of the world's eight bear species and the conservation issues they face. American Black Bear Native only to North America, the black bear is highly adaptable. It can be found in habitats as diverse as the humid bayous of Louisiana, the rain forests of the Pacific Northwest, and the tundras of Labrador. ( Learn More Asiatic Black Bear Medium-sized and predominantly black, the Asiatic black bear is similar to its American cousin. This bear, however, has a white patch of fur on its chest, which is often shaped like a "V." These bears can be found throughout southern Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Northern India and Burma. ( Learn More Brown Bear Brown bears enjoy the most extensive distribution of any bear species. They can be found throughout North America and Eurasia, including Japan and the former Soviet Union. They prefer river valleys, mountain forests, open meadows and tundra. ( Learn More Giant Panda The giant panda was long thought to be part of the raccoon family because of characteristics similar to the red panda. However, scientists have officially classified it as a bear since 1995. The giant panda has several adaptations that distinguish it from other species in the bear family. (

23. Sloth Bears National Zoo/ FONZ Native to the Indian subcontinent, sloth bears are fascinating, unusual bearsthat charm and delight those who visit them. Asia Trail sloth bears, http://natzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsiaTrail/SlothBears/

Home Animals etc. Asia Trail Sloth Bears ... Drawing of the new Sloth Bear Habitat on Asia Trail. A New Habitat for Sloth Bears A Sloth Bear Saga Sloth Bears in India National Zoo Accreditation Sloth Bear Facts Asian Elephants Giant Pandas ... Asia Trail for Kids Related Resources ZooGoer Special Issue: Bears ADOPT an Asian Elephant, Sloth Bear, Giant Panda, or another Asian species! Travel to China with FONZ. Visit the Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries of Asian Art Sloth Bears Bears are among the best and least known of animals. Everyone recognizes a giant panda, for instance, while few people can picture a sloth bear. Native to the Indian sub-continent, sloth bears are fascinating, unusual bears that charm and delight those who visit them. Our new sloth bear exhibit on the Asia Trail will introduce these animals to millions more people. Right now, Zoo visitors can see the Zoo's three sloth bears, Hana, Merlin, and Francois, at the bottom of the Valley Trail. Their exhibit, built in the 1890s, is crumbling, which makes a new exhibit for them on Asia Trail a priority.

24. A New Habitat For Sloth Bears National Zoo/ FONZ A New Habitat for sloth bears by Lucy Spelman. The A new habitat forsloth bears is a first priority, and design is well underway. The http://natzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2001/6/slothlucyside.cfm

Home Publications Zoogoer Report from the field: A Sloth Bear Saga ... Books, Naturally (Seven Bear Book Reviews) Focus on Science Weekend Saki monkey born in the Small Mammal House What Primates Think What's Ailing Asia's Vultures All at Sea in a Wild Wales National Zoo Accreditation In this Issue Panama's Kuna and the Perils of Modernity Discover Panama Report from the Field: A Sloth Bear Saga A New Habitat for Sloth Bears ... ZooGoer Related Resources Asia Trail Giant Pandas Join FONZ to receive ZooGoer in your mailbox! A New Habitat for Sloth Bears by Lucy Spelman One of my primary goals for the next ten years at the Zoo is to improve the quality of life of our animals that are living in antiquated facilities. A new habitat for sloth bears is a first priority, and design is well underway. The planned sloth bear exhibit will be set prominently at the Connecticut Avenue entrance to the Zoo, giving these star-quality bears the audience they deserve. Our goal in this exhibit is to create an environment in which sloth bears can be sloth bears: always busy, foraging for fruit, digging for insects, huffing and puffing with their long snouts, climbing trees, carrying cubs piggyback. When people can see these bears at their best, I suspect they will rival our giant pandas in popularity.

25. GeoZoo: Sloth Bear (Ursus Ursinus)! . sloth bears are known for their long, shaggy coats thatappear unkempt. Their hair sloth bears in Action. —sloth bears...... http://www.geobop.com/Mammals/Carnivora/Ursidae/Ursus_ursinus/

GeoZoo Mammals Geobopological Survey Search this site Reference Desk PaleoZoo Prehistoric Animals! G ENERAL S TORE ... Carnivores The Meat Eaters Bears (family Ursidae) Sloth Bear GeoQuiz Books Links Introduction U rsus ursinus Description Sloth bears are known for their long, shaggy coats that appear unkempt . Their hair is particularly long on the back of the neck and between the shoulders. The chest bears a white or yellow chevron or Y , similar to an Asian black bear. The grayish, short-haired, extremely flexible muzzle ends in a nose that can be closed at will. The lips are extremely loose, and the animal has no front teeth! Sloth bear feet are armed with white, blunt, curved claws as much as three inches long. Hairless webs unite the pads of the fingertips. Adults reach a length of about six feet and stand three feet at the shoulder. Females weigh about 150 to 200 pounds, males 250 to more than 300 pounds. Sloth Bears in Action Sloth bears are generally nocturnal , but they may also be active by day. A normal sloth bear

26. GeoZoo's Bears (family Ursidae), Including The Giant Panda! (Geobopological Surv brown, black, or white. Asian black bears, sloth bears, and sun bearsmay have white or buffy crescents or semicircles on the chest. http://www.geobop.com/Mammals/Carnivora/Ursidae/2.htm

GeoZoo Mammals Geobopological Survey Search this site Reference Desk PaleoZoo Prehistoric Animals! G ENERAL S TORE ... Carnivores The Meat Eaters Bears (family Ursidae) Description B as the skull!) Courtesy Skulls Unlimited Skulls Unlimited Ursine Dental Formulas (see mammal teeth most bears I C PM M X sloth bear I C PM M X Bear coats are generally long and shaggy. Except for the giant panda and the spectacled bear, the fur is generally unicolored brown, black, or white. Asian black bears, sloth bears, and sun bears may have white or buffy crescents or semicircles on the chest. The smallest bear is the sun bear, which weighs 60 to 143 pounds. Brown bears and polar bears can weigh more than 1,500 pounds, making them the largest members of the order Carnivora. Male bears, or boars, are usually about twenty percent larger than females, or sows. Discovering Bears! Description Bears in Action Home Diet ... Books Bears Home Page 3 GEO L INKS Search this site Reference Desk (IR)Rational Parks: Grizzly Outdoor Humor B ACK GeoZoo Home Vertebrates Mammals Carnivores ... Bears Affiliated Sites: Friends: 50States.com

27. Welcome To The Great Bear Foundation sloth Bear Melursus ursinus. For a long time sloth bears were confusedwith another tropical animal called a sloth. People and sloth bears. http://www.greatbear.org/bears/sloth.html

Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus For a long time sloth bears were confused with another tropical animal called a sloth. These shaggy, docile bears have a unique appearance and some interesting adaptations. Unlike their North American relatives, sloth bears live together in groups where the male is part of the cubs' upbringing. Habitat Sloth bears live in warm, humid forests or in grasslands near the equator. They can live in a wide variety of forest types from dry thorn forests in the north to wet tropical forests in the south. Distribution Sloth bears live in Southeast Asia primarily in the forest areas of Sri Lanka and India. They have also been reported in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Burma. Their populations are estimated to be between 1000 and 7000. Pysical Characteristics Color Sloth bears have long, shaggy black fur with a large white or yellow Y-shaped patch of hair on their chests. They have particularly long hair around their necks, which look slike a mane. They have little fur on their bellies and the insides of their legs.

28. Animal Fact Sheets Gestation is 180210 days in captivity. Like some bears, sloth bears can delayimplantation of the fertilized embryo if the food supply is scarce. http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/sloth_bear/sloth_bear.htm

back Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus Classification and Range Sloth bears belong to the family Ursidae, which includes eight species of bear.1 Sloth bears are found in the lower elevations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. If you like this animal and find it particularly fascinating you can adopt it! Habitat Varies seasonally due to weather and climate; includes forests, grasslands, thorny woodlands and wet tropical regions further south Length and Shoulder Height Adult male: up to 6.25 feet (1.9 m) long, and up to 36 inches (92 cm) tall; females and males do not differ greatly in height or length Weight Adult male: 200-320 pounds (91-145 kg) Adult female: 121-210 pounds (55-95kg) Life Span Life span in the wild is unknown; up to 40 years in captivity Diet In the wild: Sloth bears are omnivorous, but their diet depends greatly on the local habitat and season. Diet can consist of termites or other insects, grubs, raiding of cultivated crops, grass, honey, eggs, carrion, fruits, berries and flowers. At the zoo: Omnivore chow, insects, honey, browse, eggs, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

29. Sloth Bears: They Eat Ants, But Take On Tigers Still used as 'dancing bears,' sloth bears can hold their own with the big catsbut not with human expansion. sloth bears They Eat Ants, but Take on Tigers. http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues00/jan00/sloth.html

document.write(''); National Zoo Audio Tour: Sloth Bear Get Acquainted with the Sloth Bear Sloth Bears: They Eat Ants, but Take on Tigers Still used as "dancing bears," they can hold their own with the big cats but not with human expansion "The bear is smart," says T.R.K. Yoganand, a biologist with the Wildlife Institute of India. "After all, you don't see any tigers riding motorcycles in the circus." Yoganand, whose friends all call him "Yoga," has spent the past four years studying sloth bears in India, and when he has seen bear meet tiger, the result is often a draw. When bear meets human, however, it's often a different story. The sloth bear is very aggressive, says Smithsonian zoologist John Seidensticker, a veteran of years of fieldwork on the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. "In some areas more people are injured in encounters with sloth bears than tigers." The frowsy ursid is also the original dancing bear, "taught" for centuries to perform by the Qalandars, an itinerant people who roam the country entertaining crowds with performing animals, rope climbing, trapeze walking, puppetry, magic tricks and music. The site of Yoga's study is Panna National Park, some 200 square miles of sloth bear habitat, sheltering 30 to 40 of the animals. It is also home to a considerable number of humans. The government plans to remove all people living in the park, but it has no timetable. Yoga chose Panna as his study site in part because of the presence of humans, so that he can create for his country a sloth bear conservation plan. For, while in any single bear-human encounter the bear usually wins, often by gruesomely mauling the individual, the species as a whole is fighting a losing battle against human encroachment.

30. Gander Academy: Bears Theme Page Gander Academy sloth bears, sloth bears The sloth bear is a medium size bear weighingbetween 175 and 310 pounds with a body length of between 60 and 75 inches. http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/bearssloth.htm

Gander Academy Sloth Bears Sloth Bear Learn about the population and distribution, vital statistics, physical characteristics and much more about these mammals. Sloth Bears The sloth bear is a medium size bear weighing between 175 and 310 pounds with a body length of between 60 and 75 inches. It has a very shaggy coat of black fur, with gray and brown hairs mixed in. On the chest there is a white or cream colored U-shaped or Y-shaped patch of fur. Sloth Bear The sloth bear is small and usually black, with a long shaggy coat, especially over the shoulders. Brown and gray hairs may be mixed in with the dark coat, and cinnamon and reddish individuals have also been reported. Top of Page You have made the visit to this page! For Questions and Comments, contact Jim Cornish Grade Five Teacher, Gander Academy, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada. This page was last updated February 2000.

31. The Bear DenSloth Bear mother's back to hold on to. Conservation Status sloth bears are listedas Appendix I in CITES. Threats to Survival sloth bears face http://www.bearden.org/slobear.html

SLOTH BEAR Melursus ursinus Description: The sloth bear is a medium size bear weighing between 175 and 310 pounds with a body length of between 60 and 75 inches. It has a very shaggy coat of black fur, with grey and brown hairs mixed in. On the chest there is a white or cream colored U shaped or Y shaped patch of fur. This same lighter color occurs around the muzzle and sometimes extends around the eyes. The snout is very mobile and the nostrils can be closed voluntarily. Range: It is found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal , Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Habitat: The sloth bear prefers grasslands and forested area at predominantly lower altitudes. It is more often found in drier forests and areas with rock outcroppings. Diet: A sloth bear's diet is mostly comprised of termites for which this species is specially adapted. Its upper incisors are missing, forming a gap, and its lips can extend to form a tube. With this, the sloth bear is able to suck up the termites, making a sound that can be heard from over 330 feet away. Other items in the sloth bear diet are fruit and other plant matter, eggs, insects, honeycomb and carrion. Social Organization: Little is known about this bear in the wild but it is thought that they maintain small territories and live as solitary individuals except when a female is caring for her young. They do have several specific vocalizations. What little is known about the sloth bear in the wild has often been learned from field studies done from the back of elephants.

32. The Bear DenAll About Bears In general, bears that live in thickly forested, visually restricted environmentsas do black bears, sun bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and giant pandas http://www.bearden.org/sounds2.html

A Collection of Facts on Bears: Majestic Mammals that Share our Planet Gone Fishin' Climbing Trees and Riding the Ice And No Pockets for a Compass When Bears Sign In ... In Bear Feet Gone Fishin' The bears we know today actually have as their ancestors bears that have been evolving for some 40 million years. Fossils of the earliest "true bear", Ursavus elemensis, have been found from the Mioncene Epoch in what was then sub-tropical Europe, and show a small dog-size animal with characteristics that show a blending of dog and bear traits. It is believed that all modern bears stem from Ursavus elemensis. Two important primitive bears that should be mentioned are Arctodus simus, the giant short faced bear, and Ursus speleaus, the European cave bear. The giant short faced bear is the largest land carnivore that ever lived. It had extremely long legs, sharp claws and a reach of over 14 feet tall. It is believed that this ancient giant is related to today's small-sized spectacled bear. The cave bear, while feared and worshipped by Neanderthal culture, was actually a herbivore by nature. Cave bears survived two ice ages but were eventually became extinct, leaving a wealth of fossils that helped excite the early paleontologists of the 19th century. From the ancient cave bears evolved the brown bear, Ursus arctos, the American black bear, Ursus americanus and the Asiatic black bear, Selenarctos thibetanus. And from the brown bear evolved the newest species of bear (only 20,000 years old) the polar bear, Ursus maritimus.

33. Intel Education: Meet The Bears: The Fundamentals are eight different kinds of bears brown bears, American black bears, polar bears,giant panda bears, Asiatic black bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and http://www.intel.com/education/unitplans/bears/lessonplans/bears_fundamentals.ht

Teacher Background Information There are eight different kinds of bears - brown bears, American black bears, polar bears, giant panda bears, Asiatic black bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears. Koala bears are not real bears. They are marsupials. More bears are dying each year than are being born. Polar bears and American black bears are safe now. All other kinds of bears need protection. We need to save large areas where bears and other animals can live safely and not be hurt. American Black Bears Asiatic Black Bears Habitat (home) Mostly in forests, but also in swamps and deserts throughout North America. Prefer heavily forested areas, particularly in the hills and mountains and moist tropical forests in Southern Asia. Diet Plants, leaves, fruits, berries, nuts, roots, honey, insects, and small mammals. Insects, small mammals, birds, carrion, bee nests, and fruit. Physical Description Long, thick fur is brown or black. They are flat-footed and their front claws are longer than their back claws. 6 feet long 300 pounds Medium-sized bear. 50-74 inches long. 220-440 pounds. Females are smaller.

34. Re: Sloth Bears Re sloth bears. Follow Ups Post In Reply to sloth bears postedby Austin on January 09, 2003 at 134547 If sloth bears http://www.windowsintowonderland.org/wwwboard/messages/1126.html

Re: Sloth bears Follow Ups Post Followup WWWBoard Version 2.0 Test FAQ Posted by Ranger Sally (165.83.4.181) on January 10, 2003 at 11:48:14: In Reply to: Sloth bears posted by Austin on January 09, 2003 at 13:45:47: : If Sloth bears live in groups,why don't other bears live in groups? Thanks for your question, Austin. I consulted THE GREAT BEAR ALMANAC by Gary Brown to find the answer to your question. It says that an adult male sloth bear may occasionally remain with a family group, and may occasionally travel in pairs, but mostly sloth bears ignore each other and may fight over food. This is not so different from other bears such as the Sun Bear, Spectacled bear and Asiatic Black Bear. Even grizzly bear sows occasionally congregate with their cubs. There may also be congregations of both sexes at food supplies. Follow Ups: Post a Followup Name: E-Mail: Subject: Comments: : : If Sloth bears live in groups,why don't other bears live in groups? : Thanks for your question, Austin. I consulted THE GREAT BEAR ALMANAC by Gary Brown to find the answer to your question. It says that an adult male sloth bear may occasionally remain with a family group, and may occasionally travel in pairs, but mostly sloth bears ignore each other and may fight over food. This is not so different from other bears such as the Sun Bear, Spectacled bear and Asiatic Black Bear. Even grizzly bear sows occasionally congregate with their cubs. There may also be congregations of both sexes at food supplies.

35. Sloth Bears National Zoo/ FONZ sloth bears by John Seidensticker. sloth bears are not sloths. We know from ourZoo sloth bears that they can live quite well on a typical bear diet. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/1999/2/slothbears.cfm

Home Publications Zoogoer Sloth Bear: Field Reports (India's Panna National Park) ... A New Habitat for Sloth Bears Focus on Science Weekend Saki monkey born in the Small Mammal House What Primates Think What's Ailing Asia's Vultures All at Sea in a Wild Wales National Zoo Accreditation In this Issue The Bears Among Us Bear Conservation Around the World Giant Panda Conservation Today Sloth Bears ... ZooGoer Related Resources Asia Trail Giant Pandas Join FONZ to receive ZooGoer in your mailbox! Sloth Bears by John Seidensticker Sloth bears are not sloths. They are bears that live on the Indian subcontinent including the island of Sri Lanka. The various species of sloths live in South America. So why the name "sloth bear?" Mr. Seba was impressed with his new specimen’s long, curved, ivory-colored claws, similar to those possessed by sloths, so he called this a sloth from Ceylon when he described it in 1734. D. P. Erdbrinek, the taxonomist who ferreted out this story, believed Mr. Seba may have been victim of a seafarer’s prank because the "specimen" turned out to be "…the mutilated parts of an Aswail [sloth bear] from Ceylon together with parts of a [South American] three-toed sloth…." This error was not soon corrected and was even compounded when other early taxonomists, confused about the specimen’s origins, thought it was a creature from Africa.

36. Sloth Bear Interesting Facts sloth bears are not normally aggressive animals. Likeall bears, sloth bears walk in a plantigrade fashion, heel then toe. http://www.capronparkzoo.com/slothbear.htm

Sloth Bear ( Melursus ursinus ) Range: India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Habitat: Moist and dry forests in the areas of rocky outcrops Diet: Termites, other insects, grubs, honey, eggs, carrion, grass, flowers and fruit Locomotion: Terrestrial Sleep: Nocturnal Reproduction: Breeding is variable, taking place in June in India and all year long in Sri Lanka. Gestation period is 6 to 7 months with birth taking place between September and January. Females usually give birth to one or two young, They will leave the den at 2-3 months of age and are often seen riding on the mother’s back. They will remain with the mother until almost full grown, possibly 2—3 years. Interesting Facts: Sloth Bears are not normally aggressive animals. They have poor eyesight and hearing, but their sense of smell is excellent. Sloth Bears feed in a highly interesting manner: upon finding a termite mound, the bear digs up the nest, blows off the dust and sucks up the termites like a vacuum. Like all bears, Sloth Bears walk in a plantigrade fashion, heel then toe. Friends of Capron Park Zoo , Inc.

37. Wildlife Animal Shelter For Tigers, Panthers, Black Bears, Leopards And Other La TwoToed sloth Choloepus Didactylus Kingdom Animalia. Phylum Cordata. ClassMammalia. Click Here to See sloth Photo Library. Average Statistics Length, 2 ft. http://vanishingspecies.net/animals/sloth/

Animal Index Baby Pictures Black Bear Caimen Camel ... Snakes Two-Toed Sloth Tiger Wolf Two-Toed Sloth Choloepus Didactylus Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cordata Class: Mammalia Order: Xenarthra Family: Megalonychidae Genus: Choloepus Species: Didactylus Description Sloths are perhaps most famous for their ability to live and carry out many life functions in an upside down manner. Two-toed sloths have two long claws on their fore limbs and three claws on the hind limbs. . Sloths are covered with tan to greyish brown hairs. Apparently, the sloths hair is specially designed to allow algae to effectively colonize. Greenish camouflage is the most obvious advantage although it is a possibility that the sloths may somehow gain nutrition through absorption or consumption of the colony. Click Here to See Sloth Photo Library Average Statistics Length 2 ft. Weight 17 lbs Lifespan in Captivity 25-30 yrs Geographic Range Central and South American tropical forests Diet Sloths eat primarily vegetation such as leaves and fruit.

38. Rolling Hills Refuge - Wildlife Conservation Center sloth bears are listed as threatened with extinction by CITES, The Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. http://www.rhrwildlife.com/theanimals/b/bearsloth/

The Animals at Rolling Hills Zoo! Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus Classification: Phylum Chordata; Class Mammalia; Order Carnivora; Family Ursidae Status: Sloth bear populations are declining in the wild. Sloth bears are listed as threatened with extinction by CITES, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES is a United Nations treaty that provides a means for regulating international trade in wild animals and plants. Habitat: forests and grassland areas Range: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka Weight: 175-310 pounds. Males are generally heavier than females. Body length: 5 to 6 feet Height at the shoulder: 2.5 to 3 feet at the shoulder Lifespan: 20-30 years Fact File: How did sloth bears get their name? A member of the British Museum originally classified sloth bears as a member of the sloth family. In 1810, a live sloth bear was shipped to Paris, the species was re-classified as a bear, and the name changed to sloth bear. The sloth bear is one of eight species of bears found throughout the world. Bears are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. The other seven species of bears are: the spectacled bear, the Asiatic black bear, the brown bear (including grizzlies), the polar bear, the sun bear, the sloth bear, and the giant panda. Koalas are sometimes referred to as 'koala bears', but they are marsupials, not bears.

39. Got Questions?: Do You Have Sloth Bears At The Zoo? Do you have sloth bears at the Zoo? I love them! They are so adorable! Is there anyway I can help sloth bears, since they are an endangered species?–Gabi. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wildideas/kids/got_questions_sloth_bear.html

Gabi Currently the San Diego Zoo doesn't have any sloth bears. They were here for many years, but the Zoo now has sun bears, polar bears, brown bears, spectacled bears, and pandas. Sloth bears are very cute, with their long fur that always seems to be sticking out in all directions. They also have a unique way of eating: they find a termite nest, dig it open, blow the dust off, then actually suck up the termites like a vacuum cleaner! Their mouths are specially formed so they can make a "tube" to suck up the insects, and they can close off their nostrils so no termites crawl up their nose. Sloth bears are not actually listed as endangered, but they are listed as "vulnerable" to extinction and as a species that needs conservation help. They are losing more and more of their habitat to logging and human settlement, but one of the biggest threats to their survival is that people kill them and sell their body parts. In some parts of the world, sloth bear paws are considered something special to eat, and sloth bear gall bladders are used in some types of traditional Asian medicines. One of the best things you can do for sloth bears is to talk to people you know and explain what is happening to these bears. If people didn't eat them and didn't use the bears' body parts for medicines, more sloth bears would be around for us to admire. Sloth bear parts aren't sold in the United States much, but they are popular in Asian countries. Perhaps your school could find a school in India to be pen pals with, and you could write to them about your concerns, so they can spread the word in their country.

40. Bears The flat molars in the back help grind up plants. sloth bears use their long, curvedclaws to rip open termite mounds. • Hair—All bears have thick hair. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wildideas/animal/bear.html

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Page 2     21-40 of 98    Back | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | Next 20