Big cat and Bear tale

[Diamir2]

Sloth bears actively avoided tigers and humans when they became aware of their presence in advance. When they heard suspicious sounds made by humans, tigers, or even alarms raised by other animals such as sambar (Cervus unicolor) or common langur (Trachypithecus entellus) to the presence of predators or humans, the bears became vigilant.They paused their activity and waited for further sounds or scents, looked in the direction of the sound, or exhibited such vigilant behaviour.
When the bears sensed the presence of adversaries, they stopped their activity, moved in a different direction or even took shelter under secure cover. Sometimes,they did not emerge out of dens until long after their usual times of start of activity.
Occasionally they also fled on sensing a threat, or at other times,they rushed towards the tiger or the human. Similar reactions were also observed in Chitwan NP, Nepal. At close quarters, sloth bears reacted to humans and tigers similarly, often by roaring and running away, or roaring and attacking before retreating (Laurie and Seidensticker 1977)"                                                               K.Yoganand, 2005, “Behavioural Ecology of Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) In Panna National Park, Central India”, thesis PhD, Saurashtra University

"We never observed Sloth bears eating carrion or preying on other mammals. McDougal (pers. comm.) who conducted an extensive tiger baiting programme in Western Chitawan reported only one instance of a Sloth bear feeding from a buffalo killed by a tiger. Sanderson (1890) reported that occasionally Sloth bears scavenged tiger kills and gnawed on cattle bones"                                         A. Laurie,J. Seidensticker 1976 "Behavioural ecology of the Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)" Reply