RANTHAMBORE Sloth bear in Ranthambore
Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus): Rocky hillsides with termite mounds and fruiting trees; the Chakal riverside forest of zone 9.
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In one line: Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) — IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. Rocky hillsides with termite mounds and fruiting trees; the Chakal riverside forest of zone 9.
| Scientific name | Melursus ursinus |
| IUCN status (global) | Vulnerable |
| Legal protection in India | Schedule I; India holds most of the world’s population. |
| Where our guides see it most | zone 9 (Kuwalji), zone 5 (Kachida valley and Bakaula), zone 4 (Malik Talao and Lakarda) |
“Where our guides see it most” is a habitat pattern from our own safaris in recent seasons, not a live location. Content checked 4 November 2026.
Identification
Shaggy black coat, a pale V on the chest, a long pale muzzle and big curved claws; 55–145 kg.
Habitat in Ranthambore
Rocky hillsides with termite mounds and fruiting trees; the Chakal riverside forest of zone 9.
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Check my date on WhatsAppBehaviour
Feeds on termites, ants and fruit; mostly active at dusk and night, but Ranthambore bears are often out by day in winter.
When to look
Winter days in zone 9 and on the Lakarda and Kachida sides; they feed on the ber fruit from December.
Worth knowing
The shaggy coat and long claws are for digging insects; mothers carry cubs on their backs.
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Check my date on WhatsAppPhotography
Often in grass at a distance: a long lens and patience. Keep still if one crosses the track.
Conservation
Schedule I; India holds most of the world’s population. Status is the IUCN Red List global category; it describes the species worldwide, not the Ranthambore population.
Questions
Where are sloth bears seen in Ranthambore?
Most often in zone 9 (Kuwalji) and on the Lakarda side of zone 4 and the Kachida valley of zone 5, in our drivers’ experience.
Other wildlife of Ranthambore
Bengal tiger · Indian leopard · Striped hyena · Golden jackal · Mugger (marsh crocodile) · Sambar deer · Chital (spotted deer) · Nilgai (blue bull) · Wild boar · Chinkara (Indian gazelle) · Hanuman langur · Red-headed vulture · Indian peafowl · Caracal
Dated sightings archive
Verified entries for this species from our sightings archive: dated, zone-level, sourced. Not a live position.
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Sources and how we know
Species facts follow standard references (IUCN Red List, the Wildlife Institute of India and NTCA status reports). “Where our guides see it most” is our drivers’ own experience from recent seasons: a habitat pattern, never a live location or a promise.
- Research IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global categories)
- Research Status of Tigers in India 2022: summary report (NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India)
- Official National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Government of India
- Official Rajasthan Forest Department
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