2 Sloth Bears rescued from Jharkhand

Context

Two full-grown sloth bears were recently rescued by forest officials from a village in Jharkhand following the intervention of politician-cum-animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi.

Important facts about the species 

• The sloth bear is small and usually black, with a long shaggy coat, especially over the shoulders. 
• Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) is a bear species native to the Indian subcontinent.
• Divided into two subspecies, Melursus ursinus ursinus and Melursus ursinus inornatus, the range of the Sloth Bear extends across India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. 
• They are locally extinct in Bangladesh. 
• The M.u inornatus is found only in Sri Lanka, where it occupies the northern and eastern parts of the island. 
• Sloth Bears are mainly lowland species and inhabit a range of habitats such as grasslands, scrublands, dry and moist tropical forests.
• Diet: Sloth Bears are myrmecophagous, which means that they eat ants and termites. They also feed on fruits and consume honey from honeycombs.

Protection

• WPA Act, 1972: Sloth bears are protected under Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 
• This Schedule covers endangered species. 
• Schedule-1 and part 2 of Schedule 2 provide absolute protection- offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties.
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES listing: Appendix I