Sloth bear: facts, danger and how to survive it
A shaggy, black bear with a pale V on its chest and long claws, made for raiding termite mounds. It is short-tempered and charges at once when surprised.
About the real animal
The sloth bear lives in the forests of India and Sri Lanka. It has a shaggy black coat with a big mane over the neck and shoulders, a pale V or Y on the chest, a long pale snout and long ivory claws. It is built to raid termite mounds: it digs them open with its claws, blows the dust away and sucks the termites up through a gap in its front teeth. Its eyesight and hearing are poor, so it is easily startled, and a surprised sloth bear will attack at once. The mother carries her cubs on her back for months.
In the game
The sloth bear is bad-tempered and aggressive. Unlike the brown bear it gives no warning: it charges the moment it is surprised. Its poor senses mean it can walk almost into you in thick cover, so make some noise when you move through dense forest, and watch the Noise and Scent display. It has less health than the brown bear but is just as dangerous.
Quick facts
| Found in | pine forest, mixed woodland, swamps |
|---|---|
| Active | by day and by night |
| Eats | plants and meat |
| Temper | aggressive: it attacks on sight |
| Strength | 105 health |
| Speed | walks at 1.7 m/s, runs at 7.6 m/s (you walk at 4 m/s and sprint at 7.5 m/s) |
| Attack | about 28 damage a hit, reach 2.3 m |
| Yields | 5 to 8 meat, 3 to 4 hide |
What to do
It gives no warning. Keep your distance, and never walk up on it in thick cover.
More from this group
- 🦊FoxA shy hunter of rabbits, squirrels and birds.
- 🐺WolfPack hunters that spread out and circle.
- 🐆CougarA silent ambush hunter.
- 🐗Wild boarSturdy and short-tempered, rooting in the undergrowth in family groups.
- 🐻BearBig, strong and usually calm.
- 🧸Bear cubA small bear that stays near its mother.
- 🐍King cobraLies coiled with its hood spread when it is still, hisses as a warning and strikes if you step too close; it uncoils and glides away when it sets off.
- 🦔Indian crested porcupineA slow night forager with long banded quills.
Back to all animals, or read the survival guide.