Sloth Bear
Sloth BearSloth BearSloth BearSloth Bear

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Ranthambore National Park
23 Verified records at Ranthambore National Park
July 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 Ranthambore National Park, based on 23 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Ranthambore National Park

Tiger
EN Endemic

Tiger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Panthera tigris

70–80% · Very likely
Ruddy Mongoose

Ruddy Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes smithii

50–60% · Likely
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

30–40% · Possible
Indian Gray Mongoose

Indian Gray Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes edwardsi

20–30% · Possible
Asian Jackal
LC

Asian Jackal

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Canis aureus

10–20% · With luck
Jungle Cat
LC

Jungle Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Felis chaus

Insufficient data
Bengal Fox
LC

Bengal Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes bengalensis

Insufficient data
Striped Hyena
NT

Striped Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hyaena hyaena

Insufficient data
Honey Badger
LC

Honey Badger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Mellivora capensis

Insufficient data
Small Indian Civet
LC Endemic

Small Indian Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Viverricula indica

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

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

About 39% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Ranthambore National Park, based on 23 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

July has the highest sighting rate for Sloth Bear in Ranthambore National Park in our monthly data.

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