# Where Do Sloth Bears Live?

> Where sloth bears live: Dry and moist forests, grasslands, and scrub of the Indian subcontinent, native range cues, and human overlap. Status Vulnerable.

- **Species:** Sloth Bear (*Melursus ursinus*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Omnivore — termites, ants, fruit, and honey
- **Habitat:** Dry and moist forests, grasslands, and scrub of the Indian subcontinent
- **Lifespan:** 20–25 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in short bursts
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sloth-bear/where-do-sloth-bear-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sloth-bear/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The sloth bear is a shaggy, long-snouted bear of the Indian subcontinent that feeds mainly on termites and ants, sucking them up with a gap-toothed jaw and mobile lips. Adults weigh 55–145 kg (120–320 lb), carry cubs on their backs, and are listed Vulnerable from habitat loss and conflict.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a sighting hotline. This page is native range and habitat.

## Termite specialist

Sloth bears lack upper incisors, creating a gap that lets them suck insects efficiently. They rip open termite mounds with long claws and blow away dirt before vacuuming up colonies. During fruiting season they also eat figs, mangoes, and flowers.

## Help protect the Sloth Bear

Sloth bears are squeezed out of dry forests in India and Sri Lanka by habitat loss and human-bear conflict.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sloth-bear/where-do-sloth-bear-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.