Context
The first World Sloth Bear Day was observed on October 12, 2022 to generate awareness and strengthen conservation efforts around the unique bear species endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
About
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared October 12 as the World Sloth Bear day to be celebrated worldwide.
- It aims to spread awareness about protection and conservation of sloth bears.
- A proposal for observing the World Sloth Bear Day was mooted by Wildlife SOS India, an organisation involved in sloth bear conservation and protection for over two decades and the IUCN-Species Survival Commission sloth bear expert team accepted the proposal and declared the day to be celebrated worldwide.
Conservation Status
- IUCN – Vulnerable
- The (Wildlife Protection) Act of India, 1972 - Schedule I
- CITES - Appendix – I
- Commercial international trade of the sloth bear (including parts and derivatives) is prohibited as it is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
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About Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus)
- Sloth bears are endemic to the Indian sub-continent with small populations in Nepal and Srilanka and 90% of the species population is found in India.
- They are identified by their very distinct long, shaggy dark brown or black fur, distinct white V-shaped chest patch and four-inch long ivory-coloured curved claws used for digging out termites and ants from rock-hard mounds.
- They are found in all parts of the country except Jammu and Kashmir and north-eastern States.
- The sloth bears are omnivorous and survived on termites, ants and fruits.
Threats
- Sloth bears were poached from the wild for entertainment.
- For example, they were exploited as dancing bears by the ethnic Kalandar community.
- Man-Animal conflict.
- Habitat fragmentation.
