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Sloth Bear
Sloth Bear
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Sloth Bear
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Carrying her babies on her back is evidently a common trait among ant/termite feeding mother mammals.
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Just as in some incidents, the sloth bear has been know to use his long sharp claws effectively to fend off a leopard or even sometimes a tiger, so too has the giant anteater been know to similarly defend himself from the advances of a puma or even a jaguar. I view this as a form of convergent evolution.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/conve...lution.htm 
Gaur is the biggest wild bison on the planet. Getting beaten by gaur is not a shame. They are around 10 times(or even more) bigger than sloth bear. I definitely feel he should have atleast tried to harm the gaur. But brown bears are probably the biggest of the bears along with polar bears and the N.American bison surely must not be more than twice as big as brown bears. So, it is impressive but not as impressive as sloth bear nastily confronting a bigger tiger that must be around twice as big as him.
Parvez; I will answer that at 'Bears as Predators.'
About posts #34 and #35... It states that perhaps the reason a sloth bear prefers to either flee or fight when threatened by a predator rather than escape up a tree is because of the leopard, a predator of sloth bears. Perhaps the bear is better able to defend himself on the ground while, in a tree, perhaps the leopard might have the advantage. On the ground, as you have mentioned, sloth bears have been witnessed chasing leopards. If not this reason ( the best theory that I have found thus far ) then why - unlike the black bears, sun bear, and Andes bear - will a sloth bear not escape a tiger by retreating up a tree?
*First posted by Ursus Arctos ( Administrator ) at Carnivora )... Sloth Bear Aggression
5. BEHAVIOUR Sloth bears do have predators, notably wild dogs, leopards, tigers and humans, while elephants and rhinos also command respect. When threatened, Sloth bears may flee or make a “bluff” charge, stopping at the last minute and rising up on their hind legs to threaten. The charge rarely ends in a full-on confrontation. Like all bears, the Sloth bear prefers to avoid conflict with its own species, with other bear species and with other animals. It will avoid situations where it is likely to put itself in danger, but will fight if it has to, especially if the bear is a female with cubs. Although the Sloth bear is an agile climber, in threat situations it is likely to avoid trees as a means of escape, since predators may be lying in wait. Leopards, in particular, pose a danger, since they are also agile climbers. On the whole, Sloth bears are non-aggressive towards other bears and any marking behaviour would appear to be linked to social spacing rather than acting as a serious warning to other bears. The fact that Sloth bears, Asiatic Black bears and Sun bears can co-exist in the same ranges, indicates non-aggressive behaviour on the part of all three species. Fighting between males is rare. Should it happen, injuries can be severe and sometimes fatal. Flight is considered a better alternative.Generally speaking, the bears live in harmony and, although they are reputed to be solitary animals, both Sloth Bears and Brown Bears (in Canada) do congregate together when there are ample food supplies. Unlike Brown Bears, however, Sloth Bears will also gather together even in the absence of food. Siblings will sometimes stay together for a period ranging from a few weeks to a year, and even unrelated bears have been found to pair up for varying periods of time. Major aggression is reserved for enemies such as tigers, leopards, wild dogs, elephants and rhinos, or when a conflict occurs because of confrontation with humans. An interesting incident occurred when a Sloth Bear encountered a jackal in India (Valmik Thapar). The Sloth Bear made a mock attack, then loped off pursued by the jackal. The bear could easily have killed the jackal. Instead, it gathered speed as it ran off, the jackal snapping at its hindquarters. The bear made no attempt to harm its pursuer, an indication, perhaps, that it is not by nature aggressive. Barbara Hadley, M.Ed, BA(Hons) Associate Member IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group http://www.iar.org.uk/media/downloads/iar-sloth-bears.pdf (11-24-2016, 09:29 PM)brotherbear Wrote: Parvez; I will answer that at 'Bears as Predators.' May be that is the reason. But though they are forced to face tigers because of that above reason, they ARE facing the big predators through which they must have evolved to be stronger both body build wise as well as attitude wise. They may not be wanting to face the other animals, but IF faced they surely are not going to give up that soon. They sure must be fighting nastily atleast to protect themselves, may be not to beat other animals. This may be due to their comparitively smaller size. You are right. They like to live in harmony. They usually seem to avoid fight but if confronted it surely cannot give up that easily IMO.
Like the grizzly, the sloth bear is a ground dweller who often must go nose-to-nose with large predators. Fortunately for the sloth bear he has evolved long deeply-curved claws, an adaptation for digging for ants and termites. These make effective weapons. He also has some long canine teeth, even though the rest of his teeth are weak ( as bears go ) and his bite-force is the least of all living bears, due to his dietary habits. Being a ground dweller and having at least one predator larger than himself would not cause him to become pound-for-pound the strongest of bears ( which he isn't ). The Pleistocene grizzly was not only facing big cats near his equal in size ( as the Amur brown bear does today in parts of Russia ), but savage big cats who lived and hunted in prides ( Smilodon ) and other, more carnivorous bears, that were much bigger than himself. Consider too the mother grizzly who was forced to defend her cubs from giant wolves and big cats every bit as big or bigger than herself.
However, it was not the predators who created in the grizzly his powerful physique. It was and is his dietary lifestyle of digging in hard ground, moving huge rocks, and tearing into trees after bee-hives. It was eons of hard work which has made Ursus arctos pound-for-pound the strongest of living bears. (11-25-2016, 06:56 PM)brotherbear Wrote: Like the grizzly, the sloth bear is a ground dweller who often must go nose-to-nose with large predators. Fortunately for the sloth bear he has evolved long deeply-curved claws, an adaptation for digging for ants and termites. These make effective weapons. He also has some long canine teeth, even though the rest of his teeth are weak ( as bears go ) and his bite-force is the least of all living bears, due to his dietary habits. Being a ground dweller and having at least one predator larger than himself would not cause him to become pound-for-pound the strongest of bears ( which he isn't ). The Pleistocene grizzly was not only facing big cats near his equal in size ( as the Amur brown bear does today in parts of Russia ), but savage big cats who lived and hunted in prides ( Smilodon ) and other, more carnivorous bears, that were much bigger than himself. Consider too the mother grizzly who was forced to defend her cubs from giant wolves and big cats every bit as big or bigger than herself. Are these your words or others'. If so please give me sources if you do not mind.
Are these your words or others'. If so please give me sources if you do not mind.
My words.
http://www.lankalibrary.com/wlife/slothbear.htm
The bear took no notice of him, but kept sniffing the air and following the drag-mark made by the leopard earlier on, which meant he was not taking the most direct path to kill. The leopard sped towards the bear, belly to the ground, making low snarling, hissing sounds. The bear did not relent however, even as the big cat sprang at him thus three more times. Outdone, and in no mood for a fight, the leopard retreated to a small hollow in the thorny scrub. The bear did not bother to pursue him. The confrontation had been a noisy one, but with absolutely no physical contact. The bear then opened up the calf's stomach and began sucking on the gory juices. Then, using his paw, he tore out the intestines and ate them. Next, while holding down the carcass with one paw, he opened out the young buffalo's chest with a single sweep of the other paw and fed on the heart and lungs, sucking up all the blood in the cavity. It was interesting to note that he did not eat any of the 'flesh' (muscle). After feeding for about an hour and a half, the bear sat down patiently, cleaned his paws and face, rolled on the sandy road, and then ambled off in the same direction from whence he had come. Some minutes after his departure, the leopard came out of the thicket and started feeding. We left him to his meal. ( in my own words )... the sloth bear has courage, tenacity, and is well armed with long deeply-curved claws. He can guard or chase a leopard from it's kill. He has been known to fend off tigers, even though he often falls prey to them. Where you come-up with this idea of the sloth bear's brute-strength is a mystery. Notice too, the sloth bear feeds only on the soft tissue. Question: other than man; what is the largest animal ( documented ) you can name that a sloth bear has ever killed? 
One posts 16th and 17 th century records (human casualties) to prove grizzly's are indeed a dangerous, aggressive predators.But simply refuses to acknowledge sloth bears aggressiveness and ferocity even-though they regularly on news for attacking,killing and eating humans.
Anyway, they are more aggressive and dangerous not because they kills humans but they are build to fight and stand his ground against biggest and dangerous predator on earth Bengal-Tiger. Don't forget Wolves,Dholes pack and Leopards too live in Indian jungles. Of-course it takes hours to kill a man still it is 10 times more dangerous and powerful than any fat,fish-eating,hibernating scavenger bears. 
They don't even come close to "regularly attacking and killing humans" compared to brown bears. They aren't close to being "built to fight" compared to a grizzly.
Sloths are great bears, they are strong and confident, aggressive and smart. Browns are the same but turn that dial up to 10. What example do you really think you can use for a sloth that a grizzly doesn't match or exceed? Lastly, absolutely no one has "refused to acknowledge the sloths aggression" here.
The bear did not bother to pursue him. The confrontation had been a noisy one, but with absolutely no physical contact. The bear then opened up the calf's stomach and began sucking on the gory juices. Then, using his paw, he tore out the intestines and ate them. Next, while holding down the carcass with one paw, he opened out the young buffalo's chest with a single sweep of the other paw and fed on the heart and lungs, sucking up all the blood in the cavity. It was interesting to note that he did not eat any of the 'flesh' (muscle). After feeding for about an hour and a half, the bear sat down patiently, cleaned his paws and face, rolled on the sandy road, and then ambled off in the same direction from whence he had come.
Interesting!! I never read about this before. This means the bear's digestive system does not have much ability do digest flesh or muscular tissue. So, he may be feeding alternatively on the vegetation or is it that they chose this lifestyle of being omnivorous rather than carnivore (which has the ability to digest flesh under all circumstances) since the early times. Even if you see grizzly their favourite food is fish which are relatively easier to digest than other forms of non veg food. It seems they were vexed with their once carnivorous nature and preferred to feed on vegetation but retained their ability to digest soft tissues but unable to retain much their ability to digest tougher muscular tissue. Due to change in circumstances or surroundings, their carnivorous ancestors must have preferred vegetarian food due to more strain of being a carnivore. (11-25-2016, 07:44 PM)Vinay Wrote: Of-course it takes hours to kill a man still it is 10 times more dangerous and powerful than any fat,fish-eating,hibernating scavenger bears. It is not good to insult an animal from some location. It is my simple suggestion. It may imply to every living animal from that location. In short it is better you do not use the word fat. It may have many indirect meanings and may create unnecessary confrontations. My personal experience. |
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