Sloth Bear
Sloth BearSloth BearSloth BearSloth Bear

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Chitwan National Park
41 Verified records at Chitwan National Park
April Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), also known as the Indian bear, is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. It feeds on fruits, ants and termites. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation. It is the only species in the genus Melursus. It has also been called "labiated bear" because of its long lower lip and palate used for sucking up insects. It has long, shaggy fur, a mane around the face, and long, sickle-shaped claws. Wikipedia →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 41 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Chitwan National Park

Tiger
EN Endemic

Tiger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Panthera tigris

30–40% · Possible
Asian Jackal
LC

Asian Jackal

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Canis aureus

20–30% · Possible
Indian Gray Mongoose

Indian Gray Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes edwardsi

20–30% · Possible
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

Insufficient data
Small Indian Civet
LC Endemic

Small Indian Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Viverricula indica

Insufficient data
Mongoose

Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Herpestes javanicus

Insufficient data
Common Palm Civet
LC

Common Palm Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

Insufficient data
Mainland Leopard Cat
LC Endemic

Mainland Leopard Cat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Prionailurus bengalensis

Insufficient data
Large Indian Civet
LC Endemic

Large Indian Civet

Mammal

Viverra zibetha

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
40–50
Feb
60–70
Mar
60–70
Apr
50–60
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
20–30
Aug
10–20
Sep
10–20
Oct
30–40
Nov
30–40
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
70–80%
2 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
40–50%
3 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
4 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
30–40%
5 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
6 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
7 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
8 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
9 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
10 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
11 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Sloth Bear in Chitwan National Park?

About 45% of wildlife watchers report a Sloth Bear sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 41 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Sloth Bear in Chitwan National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Sloth Bear in Chitwan National Park in our monthly data.

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