Sloth Bear: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Bears · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. A sloth bear sucks termites up through its muzzle, with a sucking sound you can hear 180 m away.
2. Sloth bear cubs hitch rides on mum's back while she walks, runs or climbs, until they grow to a third of her size.
3. Mother sloth bears are reported to feed cubs a bread-like mass made of half-digested fruit and honeycomb.
4. Scientists think the pale Y or V on a sloth bear's chest may work as a warning signal, notably to tigers.
5. In 2011, a mother sloth bear with cubs was seen standing her ground and prevailing against two tigers, one after the other.

The quiz

1. How far away can the sucking sound of a sloth bear at a termite mound be heard?

• 18 m
• 180 m (correct)
• 1,800 m
• 80 m

The sucking sound can be heard 180 m away.

2. Until when do sloth bear cubs ride on their mother's back?

• Until they reach a third of her size (correct)
• Until they open their eyes
• Until they are one week old
• Until winter

Cubs ride on their mother's back until they grow to a third of her size.

3. What do mother sloth bears reportedly feed their cubs?

• Raw termites
• Fresh fish
• Whole nuts
• A bread-like mass of fruit and honeycomb (correct)

They are reported to feed cubs a bread-like mass of half-digested fruit and honeycomb.

4. What is the whitish chest mark of a sloth bear thought to be?

• A cooling patch
• Camouflage
• A threat display (correct)
• A hunger signal

Scientists think the pale chest mark works as a warning signal.

5. Whom did a mother sloth bear with cubs face down in 2011?

• Two tigers (correct)
• Three leopards
• One elephant
• A pack of dholes

She stood her ground and prevailed against two tigers, one after the other.

More about the Sloth Bear

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries