Sloth bears found eating shield-tailed snakes in Telangana reserve

Sloth bears in Telangana's Amrabad Tiger Reserve have been recorded eating shield-tailed snakes during the monsoon. Researchers examining over a hundred scat samples discovered snake remains in a small portion of them, marking a potential first record of this prey choice.

Bear Habits and Habitat

The shaggy-coated mammal is native to the Indian subcontinent and is mostly active at night. Its long snout and mobile lips help it eat ants and termites, though it also feeds on fruits and wild berries. Sloth bears prefer rocky hills and thick bushes, and they use dens to rest and raise cubs. A 2006 survey estimated India's sloth bear population at 6,000 to 11,000 individuals, with roughly half living outside protected areas.

Conservation Status and Threats

The IUCN lists the sloth bear as vulnerable to extinction. In India, the animal gets top legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Beyond eating insects, the bears help grow new forests by spreading seeds, as shown by a study in Rajasthan's Aravalli hills. Major threats include habitat loss, forest damage, poaching, and the illegal trade of bear body parts.

Context

Wildlife experts note that rocky areas and natural caves act as vital shelters for sloth bears even outside formal wildlife reserves. Protecting these microhabitats is often just as important for animal safety as official park boundaries.