Context: Recently, India's oldest sloth bear Gulabo dies at Bhopal's Van Vihar national park
Sloth bear

• The sloth bear is the bear species native to the Indian Sub-continent.
• These bears are also known as labiated bears because of their long lower lip and palate used for sucking up insects.

Habitat Distribution:

• Habitat: inhabits the tropical lowland forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh and is sometimes found in tall grasslands that provide dense cover.

Feeding Habits

• These bears have no upper incisors, which allow their long tongue to slip through and suck up insects.
• They only feed on fruits, ants, and termites.
• IUCN: Vulnerable

Van Vihar national park

• Location: Near Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India.
• Established in: 1979
• It is situated on the bank of Upper Lake (also known as the “Bada Talab”) which is a Ramsar Site and one of the two lakes of Bhoj Wetland.
• It has the status of a national park but is developed and managed as a modern zoological park.
• It was formed from a depleted forest area.
• It is also a designated “Conservation Breeding Centre” for the Royal Bengal Tiger and a participating zoo for the Asiatic Lion, as well as for the Hard Ground Barasingha (state animal of Madhya Pradesh) and two species of Gyps Vultures.
• Fauna: Bengal tiger, Asiatic lion, Sloth bear, Red fox, Indian jackal, Chital, sambar, blackbuck, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar, porcupine etc.
• Flora: The prominent tree species include Amaltas, Safed Babul, Reunjha, Landia and Saja.