Sloth bears fact file
Read all about sloth bears
They are not related to sloths
Despite their name they are not related to sloths.
Sloths are from South America. They are a tree dwelling animal that loves to sleep!
Sloth bears got their name from the explorer George Shaw, who discovered them in the 1790s and thought they resembled a creature not quite a bear not quite a sloth due to:
Long shaggy coats.
No front teeth.
Long-curled claws.
