Sloth Bear
Sloth BearSloth BearSloth BearSloth Bear

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Bandhavgarh National Park
5 Verified records at Bandhavgarh National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), also known as the Indian bear, is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. It feeds on fruits, ants and termites. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation. It is the only species in the genus Melursus. It has also been called "labiated bear" because of its long lower lip and palate used for sucking up insects. It has long, shaggy fur, a mane around the face, and long, sickle-shaped claws. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Bandhavgarh National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Bandhavgarh National Park

Tiger
EN Endemic

Tiger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Panthera tigris

80–90% · Very likely
Asian Jackal
LC

Asian Jackal

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Canis aureus

60–70% · Likely
Ruddy Mongoose

Ruddy Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes smithii

30–40% · Possible
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

Insufficient data
Indian Gray Mongoose

Indian Gray Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes edwardsi

Insufficient data
Dhole
EN

Dhole

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Cuon alpinus

Insufficient data
Common Palm Civet
LC

Common Palm Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

Insufficient data
Bengal Fox
LC

Bengal Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes bengalensis

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
20–30
Feb
30–40
Mar
20–30
Apr
5–10
May
40–50
Jun
10–20
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
40–50
Oct
10–20
Nov
5–10
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
70–80%
2 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
40–50%
3 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
4 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
30–40%
5 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
6 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
7 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
8 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
9 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
10 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
11 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Sloth Bear in Bandhavgarh National Park?

About 26% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Bandhavgarh National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Sloth Bear in Bandhavgarh National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Sloth Bear in Bandhavgarh National Park in our monthly data.

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