The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is found across parts of the Indian Subcontinent including India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The species prefers grasslands, scrublands and tropical forests up to 1500 meters elevation. They have a shaggy coat and a lanky appearance, a mane around the neck and long sickle-shaped claws. Sloth Bear is omnivorous in its diet and feeds on termites, fruits and plant matter and honeycomb. They are known to scavenge, many times from Tiger kills.
In Corbett Tiger Reserve, there is a good presence of Sloth Bear, though they are quite shy and nocturnal due to the heavy presence of Tigers. Southern areas of the reserve including Jhirna and Dhela Tourism Zones are the strongholds of the species in the area.
This pair of Sloth Bear was recently recorded by Jim’s Jungle Retreat Naturalist Rakesh Bhatt on a drive to Dhela Tourism Zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve.