The Sri Lanka Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus inornatus) is a subspecies which is endemic to the island nation. The sloth bear is one of the most adversely affected animals due to deforestation and urbanization. As, this species is very sensitive to disturbances, currently it is restricted to the National parks and sanctuaries in the lowlands of the island. Due to prevalent misconceptions among the villagers, the sloth bear has earned the reputation as one of the most dangerous animals in Sri Lanka. It is deliberately avoided by jungle men as the most feared creature in Sri Lanka’s wilds. Even to date, the sloth bears are killed by villagers whenever an opportunity arises, during their forages to the forest to collect honey and other forest products. During the survey several dead sloth bears were found close to villagers, their death was due to gun shots and snares. Sloth bears were reported as abundant during the colonial period, but declined speedily and drastically due to habitat loss and hunting. The colonial sports men used to sit over water holes during the dry season to shoot sloth bears, which come to quench their thirst – sloth bears unlike other large mammals need to have their daily fill of water.
In Sri Lanka, population estimates and abundance of the sloth bear is greatly lacking. In order to fill this gap in knowledge and to gather base line data on their population density and home range, the current project was initiated, first in Wilpattu National Park, as it is reported to harbour one of the largest populations of sloth bear, as per a study done in the 1970’s by Eisenberg and Lockhart. This forms the first stage in an island wide study on the Sloth Bear in Sri Lanka.
Our goal is to map, evaluate the population density and composition of sloth bears in Wilpattu National Park and to identify their habitat needs and preferences. The information gained through this study can then be applied island wide in the subsequent strategies and efforts for the conservation of the sloth bear.
The project was initiated on the 3rd of June 2013 with the financial support from CIC Holdings PLC through Biodiversity Sri Lanka. To date over 100 field days have been spent in the wilds of Wilpattu for the said survey and study.
