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The Stages of Life for a Sloth Bear

Sloth bears are native to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh. These omnivorous bears were originally associated with sloths because of their slow gait and large consumption of insects. The life cycle of sloth bears begins with the birth of defenseless cubs, a juvenile stage spent learning survival skills from bear mothers, reproduction in early adulthood and full maturity.

Newborns
- Sloth bear cubs are usually born in December or January during their habitat's dry season. Sloth bear litters normally consist of one to three cubs. Newborn cubs weigh between 10.5 to 17.5 oz. They are born with strong forelegs and toes and are blind, tiny and defenseless. The cubs are able to see after three weeks when they first open their eyes. They are able to walk four weeks after their birth. The cubs are dependent on their mothers' protection, care and protein-rich milk for nourishment.
Juveniles
- Sloth bear cubs remain with their mothers until they can live independently and fend for themselves. Cubs that are at least a couple of years old are able to leave their mothers. Until then, the cubs rely on their mothers to teach them about their surroundings and everything else that is necessary for their survival. Older sloth bear cubs rely on their mother's milk, but they begin to eat other foods, such as insects, carrion, fruits and berries beginning at 2 to 3 months of age.
Early Adulthood and Reproduction
- Sloth bears become sexually mature during their early adulthood, at about 3 or 4 years of age. Sloth bears can breed throughout the year or only in May and June, depending on their climate. The gestation period lasts between six and seven months. The female sloth bear reproductive system is able to delay the implantation of fertilized embryos if necessary. This way, cubs can be born in December or January, the customary birthing period, regardless of how early in the year mating occurred. Sloth bear mothers are the sole caregivers and carry their young on their backs for several months after birth.
Maturity
- Mature sloth bears have long, shaggy coats of black or reddish-brown fur with a white or yellow "V" shape on their chests. Adult males can grow up to 6.25 feet long and 3 feet tall, and weigh between 200 and 320 lbs. Adult females can grow to be the same length and height of adult males, but they only weigh between 121 and 210 lbs. It is not known how long a sloth bear's life span is in the wild. Captive sloth bears can live up to 40 years.

Animals & Science