Context: Recently, death of two sloth bears have been reported from the Nandankanan Zoological Park, Bhubaneswar (Odisha).

• The exact cause of deaths is not yet known. Earlier, a 28-year-old Himalayan black bear died probably due to old age as bears are known to live for about 30 years.

About Sloth Bear

• Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bears found in India.
• It feeds on fruits, ants and termites.
• It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• The sloth bear is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• International trade of the sloth bear is prohibited as it is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

About Himalayan Black Bear

• Scientific Name: Ursus thibetenus
• Habitat: Also called Asiatic black bear, it inhabits mountainous and heavily forested areas across southern and eastern Asia.
• Protection Status: ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List, Appendix I in CITES listing, Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Threats: Illegal hunting for body parts, specifically the gallbladder, paws and skiing poses the main threat, together with habitat loss caused by logging, expansion of human settlements and roads.

About Nandankanan zoo

• It is located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• It lies in adjacent to Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It is the only zoological park in India to become an institutional member of World Association of Zoos and Aquarium (WAZA).
• The Nandankanan zoo hosts India’s only pangolin conservation breeding centre.
• It is the first zoo in the World to breed White tiger and Melanistic tiger.
• It was the world’s first captive crocodile breeding centre, where gharials were bred in captivity in 1980.
• The State Botanical Garden of Nandankanan is one of the pioneering plant conservation and nature education centres of Odisha.

Note: World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.