Sloth bears are on their way to Edinburgh Zoo for the first time, according to a statement from the zoo’s website.
Sloth bears live in India and eat fruit, termites and ants. They have three-inch-long claws which they use to dig into termite mounds. They also have a semi circle of tan fur on their chest, similar to the moon bear.
Both tigers and sloth bears have been known to fight over territory. Bears are also a part of a tiger’s diet.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland has started a fundraiser for the new enclosure, which will better suit their needs. The bears will move into the enclosure last inhabited by the giant pandas.
RZSS CEO David Field said: “Within the new area here at the zoo, there will be plenty of outdoor space for them to roam, a play den providing visitors with amazing views and areas where children of all ages can imagine what it’s like to be a bear.”
The RZSS focuses on breeding and conservation programmes for vulnerable species such as the Amur leopard in the Highland Wildlife Park.
Vulnerable bears
Sloth bears are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Which means a species is threatened with extinction if its population continues to decline due to current threats. Habitat loss for agriculture and developments, poaching and human-wildlife conflict all threaten the population of sloth bears.
Poachers target the bears for their bile which is used in traditional Asian medicine. It is marketed as a cure for cancer, colds and high blood pressure. However, evidence for the bile’s efficacy is almost non-existent.
Featured Image Credit: Edinburgh Zoo website
Third year journalism student. 2025/2026 Lifestyle and Comment Editor at Brig. Published in The Yucatán Times, Mi Campeche and The Mourning Paper. Host of From the 40s with Air3Radio.
