Sloth Bear: Location, IUCN Status: UPSC Current Affairs

Description

Why In News

A recent operation by the Karnataka Forest Department to capture a sloth bear near the Shivamogga airport has highlighted the human-wildlife Conflict.

About Sloth Bear

The Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) is one of the eight bear species globally and is uniquely adapted to the Indian subcontinent.

Biological Profile & Unique Adaptations

Myrmecophagous Diet: They are specialized insectivores, primarily consuming ants and termites.

Their long lower lip and palate (earning them the name "labiated bears") act as a vacuum to suck up insects.

Physical Traits: They possess shaggy black fur and a distinctive V-shaped white chest mark.

Their curved claws are the longest among all bear species, evolved specifically for digging into rock-hard termite mounds.

Behavior: Primarily nocturnal, they forage at night and rest in secluded boulders or tall grasslands during the day.

Habitat

Range: Sloth bears are endemic to the Indian subcontinent, found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and potentially Bhutan.

Ecosystems: They thrive in diverse environments, from dry and moist deciduous forests to scrublands and grasslands where rocky outcrops provide essential shelter.

Conservation & Legal Status

Due to habitat loss and poaching, the sloth bear is a high-priority species for conservation:

IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I (prohibiting international trade).
Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Listed under Schedule I, providing the highest level of legal protection in India

Source: THEHINDU

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Which of the following best describes the term 'Myrmecophagous', often used in relation to Sloth Bears?

(a) An animal that feeds primarily on aquatic plants.

(b) An animal that feeds exclusively on fruits and honey.

(d) An animal that migrates seasonally across high altitudes.

Answer: c

Explanation:

The term 'Myrmecophagous' (from Greek myrmex "ant" and phagein "to eat") refers to an animal that feeds primarily on ants and termites.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) is classified as "Vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

A myrmecophagous diet refers to a specialized insectivorous diet that relies heavily on ants and termites. Sloth bears utilize their specially adapted long lower lip and palate as a "biological vacuum" to extract these insects from mounds.

Sloth Bears are endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Their populations reside mainly in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and potentially Bhutan, where they thrive in diverse zones like dry and moist deciduous forests, scrublands, and grasslands.