Poaching, illegal trade in bears for their body parts, and human-bear conflicts pose a great threat to the sloth bear species, which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
The sloth bear. India is home to four bear species.
Photo: Jomish Mohan
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Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, is used to a bear at his desk. ▲
A sloth bear at a pool. Human-bear conflicts are on the rise in several States, following the shrinking of bear habitats.
Photo: Jomish Mohan
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To mark their territories, sloth bears scrape trees with their forepaws and rub against them with their flanks.
Photo: Jomish Mohan
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At Wildlife SOS' Agra Bear Rescue Facility, bears are given unrestrained freedom. ▲
In the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. The sloth bear is a speedy climber of trees, and this stands it in good sread in its search for honeycombs and fruits.
Photo: Jomish Mohan
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At Masinagudi. Bears are mostly nocturnal animals and move around in their habitats for up to 100 square kilometres in search of fruits and insects. ▲
Female bears deliver their young in cave-like structures in rocks and watch them round the clock. ▲
A bear rescued from Baud, Madhya Pradesh. ▲
A view of Masinagudi in Tamil Nadu, a natural habitat of the sloth bear. ▲
Geeta Seshamani, co-founder of Wildlife SOS, with a rescued cub. ▲
In the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu. A curious gaze at the intruder.
Photo: Picasa
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Taking a siesta.
Photo: Jomish Mohan
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Venturing into the water, in the Nelliyampathi Reserve Forest. ▲
A bear in captivity, a file photograph. Although a large number of dancing bears have been rescued, many are said to exist in villages along the India-Nepal border. ▲
At Sambalpur in Odisha, a street play to create awareness on the importance of the conservation of sloth bears. ▲
Children participating in a programme organised by the Zoo Outreach Organisation in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, on conservation and welfare of bears. ▲
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