Sloth Bear

The main published study of sloth bears in Sri Lanka radio-collared 10 adult bears in Wasgomuwa National Park in 2002 and 2003. Mean 95% fixed kernel home ranges were 2.2 km² for females and 3.8 km² for males, among the smallest reported for any bear (Ratnayeke et al. 2007).

Within their home ranges the bears used high forest more, and abandoned agricultural fields (chenas) less, than their availability would predict. Home ranges stayed almost entirely inside the park even though land outside was accessible, which suggested the park could support a considerable bear population (Ratnayeke et al. 2007). Nationally Endangered (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).