Sloth Bear
Sloth BearSloth BearSloth BearSloth Bear

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Kanha National Park
15 Verified records at Kanha National Park
April 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 →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Kanha National Park, based on 15 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Kanha National Park

Tiger
EN Endemic

Tiger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Panthera tigris

70–80% · Very likely
Asian Jackal
LC

Asian Jackal

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Canis aureus

60–70% · Likely
Dhole
EN

Dhole

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Cuon alpinus

30–40% · Possible
Ruddy Mongoose

Ruddy Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes smithii

30–40% · Possible
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

20–30% · Possible
Common Palm Civet
LC

Common Palm Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

Insufficient data
Jungle Cat
LC

Jungle Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Felis chaus

Insufficient data
Small Indian Civet
LC Endemic

Small Indian Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Viverricula indica

Insufficient data
Bengal Fox
LC

Bengal Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes bengalensis

Insufficient data
Indian Gray Mongoose

Indian Gray Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes edwardsi

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
40–50
Feb
30–40
Mar
50–60
Apr
40–50
May
40–50
Jun
20–30
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
10–20
Oct
10–20
Nov
40–50
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 Kanha National Park?

About 37% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Kanha National Park, based on 15 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

April has the highest sighting rate for Sloth Bear in Kanha National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Kanha National Park