Animal Guide

Sloth Bear

16 destinations · 13 states

Native Range: Indian subcontinent

Sloth bears have a shaggy, almost unkempt appearance, but watching one forage quickly reveals how specialized they are. The long claws are useful for digging into termite mounds, while the flexible lips can form a surprisingly strong suction tube. Listen closely and you may even hear loud snorts or sucking sounds as a bear investigates food. In an exhibit, a sloth bear may spend several minutes nosing around logs, soil, or other hiding places before suddenly becoming very focused on one spot. That searching behavior reflects life in the forests and grasslands of the Indian subcontinent, where insects, fruit, and other foods make up much of its diet. The pale crescent of fur on the chest is another detail worth noticing, as is the shaggy coat that helps give the species its distinctive look. Despite the name, sloth bears are not related to sloths. Their name comes from early observations of their slow, seemingly sloth-like movements. Once one starts digging or feeding, though, there is little sluggishness about the way it works.

Sloth Bear

Where to see Sloth Bear

16 destinations across 13 states

16 destinations

Abilene Zoo

Abilene, TX

Brookfield Zoo

Riverside, IL

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland, OH

Detroit Zoo

Royal Oak, MI

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, CA

Idaho Falls Zoo

Idaho Falls, ID

Lee Richardson Zoo

Garden City, KS

Little Rock Zoo

Little Rock, AR

Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia, PA

Safari North Wildlife Park

Brainerd, MN

San Diego Zoo

San Diego, CA

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Washington, DC

Sunset Zoo

Manhattan, KS

Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle, WA

Zoo Boise

Boise, ID

Zoo Miami

Miami, FL

Your ZooHopper Passport

Turn your wildlife adventures into a Passport

Keep track of the zoos, aquariums, safari parks, and wildlife destinations you've visited—and save the places you want to explore next.

Remember every visit
Build your wishlist
Collect Passport Stamps
Share photos & contribute

Create Your Passport

Dan's Passport

Places: 12
States: 6
Wishlist: 9

Passport stamps

Recently visited

Bronx ZooBronx, NY
Georgia AquariumAtlanta, GA
San Diego Zoo Safari ParkEscondido, CA

MY WISHLIST

Monterey Bay AquariumMonterey, CA