The three-toed sloth is arboreal (tree-dwelling), with a body adapted to hang by its limbs the large curved claws help the sloth to keep a strong grip on tree branches. Sloths make a good habitat for other organisms, and a single sloth may be home to moths, beetles, cockroaches and fungi aswell as algae. They are so sedentary that algae grows on their furry coat. Being the world’s slowest mammal, the sloth travels at a top speed of 0.24 kilometres per hour (0.15 mph). The major threat to the pygmy three-toed sloth is habitat destruction which is reducing the size of its already small habitat. The pygmy three-toed sloth can only be found on Isla Escudo de Veraguas which has been separated from mainland Panama for 9,000 years. There are four living species of three-toed sloths these are the brown-throated sloth, the maned sloth, the pale-throated sloth, and the pygmy three-toed sloth which was only recognised as a distinct species in 2001. There are both two-toed and three-toed sloths. Sloths are identified by the number of long, prominent claws that they have on each front foot. Such incidents not only lead to injuries and in some cases mortality but inculcate insensitivity and negative perception about wildlife. Local communities respond to crop damage by attacking sloth bears in retaliation. Oftentimes, sloth bears are libeled as 'problematic' or 'nuisance-causing' animals. "In various regions, people fear these animals due to their aggressive and unpredictable nature. "This species is also threatened by habitat loss and poaching for body parts," he said. "Human activity and encroachment both within and outside protected areas result in high frequencies of human-sloth bear conflict and restrict the movement of sloth bears and other wild animals among fragmented forest patches. "There has been an increase in human-sloth bear conflict wherein, in some cases, sloth bears behave aggressively toward humans when threatened," Satyanarayan said. Consistent with findings in other studies, human incursion into bear habitat is the primary factor responsible for precipitating conflict," the study read.ĭespite their reputation, Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, told Newsweek that sloth bear attacks happen when the animal feels threatened. "We conclude that the seasonal activity of bears plays a much smaller role on attack rates than the seasonal activity of humans. The study noted that there are a higher number of attacks when human activity is at its highest levels in their habitats. Similarly, previous studies conducted in central India have found that attacks are more frequent during monsoon season, which is typically when local people are active outside farming and protecting crops. At this time of year, more local people become active in the forest, as the monsoons have come to an end. In the Deccan Plateau region, researchers found that sloth bear attacks were most common in the winter months. The study said that tigers no longer live on the Deccan Plateau, however, the large array of caves in the area "undoubtedly historically benefited sloth bears, perhaps facilitating a higher density than would have been otherwise attainable."Īlthough aggressive tendencies potentially stem from their evolution, the study noted there are other factors at play when it comes to conflict. "While tigers can still have the upper hand over sloth bears who share their habitat, their aggressive behavior sometimes has tigers thinking that they just aren't worth all the trouble." Swaminathan, a senior biologist on the study, told Newsweek. "Since cannot outrun tigers and cannot climb trees fast enough to escape tigers, sloth bears have evolved an aggressive behavior to fight tigers off," M. According to tiger scat studies, 2 percent of a Bengal tiger's diet may be comprised of sloth bear. The study noted that cubs may be preyed upon by wolves or leopards, however, their only "natural predator," and only realistic opponent, is the Bengal tiger. Sloth bears are not often hunted by other animals. 
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