Sloth Bear
Sloth BearSloth BearSloth BearSloth Bear

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
70–80% · Very likely
overall probability at Wilpattu National Park
68 Verified records at Wilpattu National Park
June 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 →

70–80% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Wilpattu National Park, based on 68 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Wilpattu National Park

Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

70–80% · Very likely
Ruddy Mongoose

Ruddy Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes smithii

70–80% · Very likely
Asian Jackal
LC

Asian Jackal

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Canis aureus

60–70% · Likely
Indian Gray Mongoose

Indian Gray Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes edwardsi

20–30% · Possible
Jungle Cat
LC

Jungle Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Felis chaus

20–30% · Possible
Small Indian Civet
LC Endemic

Small Indian Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Viverricula indica

20–30% · Possible
Fishing Cat
VU Endemic

Fishing Cat

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Prionailurus viverrinus

Insufficient data
Eurasian Otter
NT

Eurasian Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lutra lutra

Insufficient data
Stripe-necked Mongoose

Stripe-necked Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes vitticollis

Insufficient data
Rusty-spotted Cat
NT Endemic

Rusty-spotted Cat

Mammal

Prionailurus rubiginosus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

70–80
Jan
50–60
Feb
60–70
Mar
60–70
Apr
70–80
May
80–90
Jun
80–90
Jul
60–70
Aug
70–80
Sep
50–60
Oct
70–80
Nov
50–60
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 Wilpattu National Park?

About 72% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Wilpattu National Park, based on 68 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

June has the highest sighting rate for Sloth Bear in Wilpattu National Park in our monthly data.

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