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What the sources say

Sloth BearMelursus ursinus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Sloth Bear profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 56 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Sloth bear. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysMissing top front teeth
The source saysAdult sloth bears are missing their top two front teeth (incisors), which enables them to suck up termites and other insects with ease.
The page saysVacuum-cleaner feeding: a gap where its top two front teeth should be lets it suck up termites
The source saysAdult sloth bears are missing their top two front teeth (incisors), which enables them to suck up termites and other insects with ease.
The page saysIt roams the dry and moist forests and some tall grasslands of India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal
The source saysSloth bears live in a variety of dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter. Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal.
The page saysAdult sloth bears are missing their top two front incisors, and that gap turns the mouth into a nozzle
The source saysAdult sloth bears are missing their top two front teeth (incisors), which enables them to suck up termites and other insects with ease.
The page saysDigging Into Cement-Hard Mounds
The source saysTermites, dug out of their cement-hard nest mounds, and some ants are year-round staples.
The page saysWhen trees are in fruit, the bear eats mangoes, figs and other fruit
The source saysWhen trees are in fruit, usually during the monsoon season, sloth bears dine on mango, fig, ebony and other fruits, as well as on flowers.
The page saystermites dug from cement-hard mounds and some ants are year-round staples
The source saysTermites, dug out of their cement-hard nest mounds, and some ants are year-round staples.
The page saysoutside fruiting season, insects make up 95 percent of a sloth bear's diet
The source saysDuring non-fruiting season, insects constitute 95 percent of a sloth bear's diet.
The page saysit also climbs trees to knock down honeycombs, then collects the honey from the forest floor
The source saysSloth bears climb trees and knock down honeycombs, later collecting the honey from the forest floor.
The page saysTermites dug from cement-hard mounds, some ants
The source saysTermites, dug out of their cement-hard nest mounds, and some ants are year-round staples.
The page sayshoney, and fruit such as mango and fig
The source sayssloth bears dine on mango, fig, ebony and other fruits ... Sloth bears climb trees and knock down honeycombs, later collecting the honey from the forest floor.
The page saysa threatened sloth bear stands on its hind legs and waves its clawed forepaws like weapons
The source saysIf threatened, they will stand on two legs, brandishing their clawed forepaws as weapons.
The page sayslarge canines
The source saysTheir large canines are used for defense against tigers.
The page saysSloth bears are the only bears that routinely carry their cubs on their backs
The source saysSloth bears are the only bears to routinely carry their young on their backs as a primary mode of transportation
The page saysA cub rides there until it is 6 to 9 months old
The source saysthe cub clings to the extra shag of fur ("saddle") on the mother's back until it is 6 to 9 months old
The page saysAdult sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) are missing their top two front incisors, and the gap lets them suck up termites and other insects with ease
The source saysAdult sloth bears are missing their top two front teeth (incisors), which enables them to suck up termites and other insects with ease.
The page saysTheir nostrils can also close completely, keeping out dust and insects while they raid termite nests
The source saysSloth bears' nostrils can close completely, protecting the animals from dust or insects when raiding termite nests or beehives.
The page saysPiggyback Cubs
The source saysSloth bears are the only bears to routinely carry their young on their backs as a primary mode of transportation
The page saysDry and moist forests and some tall grasslands across India, Sri Lanka, and southern Nepal
The source saysSloth bears live in a variety of dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter. ... Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal.

Source
02

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Sloth Bear. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysa vacuum-cleaner mouth for termites
The source saysA large gap between the upper teeth makes the perfect space for sucking up termites. Like vacuum cleaners, the bears' lips and tongue create a powerful suction and loud slurping, sucking sounds.
The page saysstand-and-fight defense against tigers
The source saysIt is not aggressive, but it will defend itself against tigers, leopards, and other bears by standing on its back legs and using its teeth and claws.
The page saysit can close its nostrils while it feeds
The source saysA sloth bear can close its nostrils while it sucks up ants and termites with its mouth, so the insects don't crawl up its nose.
The page saysthe slurping can be heard up to 100 meters away
The source saysSucking sounds the sloth bear makes while eating can be heard up to 330 feet (100 meters) away.
The page saysgrows 1.4 to 1.9 meters (4.5 to 6.2 feet) long and stands 0.6 to 0.9 meters at the shoulder
The source saysLength: 4.5 to 6.2 feet (1.4 to 1.9 meters) Height: 2 to 3 feet (.6 to .9 meters) tall at the shoulderNote: .6 and .9 written as 0.6 and 0.9
The page saysFemales weigh 50 to 95 kilograms and males 70 to 145 kilograms
The source saysFemales - 110 to 210 pounds (50 to 95 kilograms); males, 154 to 320 pounds (70 to 145 kilograms)
The page saysoften sleeping in caves and near rivers when they're available
The source saysThey often sleep in caves and near rivers when available.
The page saysWhat makes it unusual is a gap where teeth should be
The source saysIt was a European zoologist, George Shaw, who named the sloth bear for its long, thick claws and unusual teeth. ... A large gap between the upper teeth makes the perfect space for sucking up termites.
The page saysA sloth bear sucks termites up through the gap with its lips and tongue, which create a powerful suction like a vacuum cleaner
The source saysA large gap between the upper teeth makes the perfect space for sucking up termites. Like vacuum cleaners, the bears' lips and tongue create a powerful suction and loud slurping, sucking sounds.
The page saysIt can close its nostrils while it feeds, so the insects don't crawl up its nose
The source saysA sloth bear can close its nostrils while it sucks up ants and termites with its mouth, so the insects don't crawl up its nose.
The page saysSloth bears are well known as noisy eaters
The source saysIn fact, sloth bears are well known for being noisy bears, especially while they eat.
The page saysthe sucking sounds a feeding sloth bear makes can be heard up to 100 meters (330 feet) away
The source saysSucking sounds the sloth bear makes while eating can be heard up to 330 feet (100 meters) away.
The page saysIt rips mounds open with 3-inch (8-centimeter) claws
The source saysLarge, thick 3-inch (8-centimeter) claws come in handy for ripping apart termite nests in soil, old logs, or trees.
The page saysShy, Until Startled
The source sayssloth bears are shy and would rather run away from human encounters. They are aggressive only when startled or confronted.
The page saysSloth bears can't see or hear as well as other bears
The source saysThe sloth bear has a nose for sniffing out food but it cannot see or hear as well as other bears.
The page sayswould rather run from people, but they turn aggressive when startled or confronted
The source sayssloth bears are shy and would rather run away from human encounters. They are aggressive only when startled or confronted.
The page saysAgainst a tiger or leopard, it rears up, roars, and fights with claws
The source saysit will defend itself against tigers, leopards, and other bears by standing on its back legs and using its teeth and claws. ... Sloth bears aren't very vocal, but can make an impressive roar if needed for defense.
The page saysThe cubs grip the shaggy fur on their mother's back while she looks for food
The source saysThe long hair is easier for her cubs to grip, and they can hold on better while Mom looks for food.
The page saysthe ride is thought to protect them from predators
The source saysRiding on the mother's back is thought to provide the cubs protection from predators.
The page saysone mother with a cub on her back was seen scaring off two tigers with her roar
The source saysA mother with a cub clinging to her back was observed scaring off not one but two tigers with her roar!
The page saysSloth bears are well known for being noisy, especially while they eat
The source saysIn fact, sloth bears are well known for being noisy bears, especially while they eat.
The page saysthe sucking and slurping sounds a sloth bear makes while feeding can be heard up to 330 feet (100 meters) away
The source saysSucking sounds the sloth bear makes while eating can be heard up to 330 feet (100 meters) away.
The page saysRipping apart termite nests with its 3-inch (8-centimeter) claws is noisy too
The source saysLarge, thick 3-inch (8-centimeter) claws come in handy for ripping apart termite nests in soil, old logs, or trees. This is a noisy activity.
The page saysSloth bears are the only bears that carry their young around on their backs
The source saysSloth bears are the only bears that carry their young around on their back.
The page saysThe cubs grip their mother's long, shaggy fur while she looks for food
The source saysThe long hair is easier for her cubs to grip, and they can hold on better while Mom looks for food.
The page saysriding there is thought to protect them from predators
The source saysRiding on the mother's back is thought to provide the cubs protection from predators.
The page saysAs they get larger, the cubs spend more time on the ground
The source saysAs they get larger, the cubs spend more time on the ground.
The page saysA Bear Built Like a Vacuum Cleaner
The source saysLike vacuum cleaners, the bears' lips and tongue create a powerful suction and loud slurping, sucking sounds.
The page saysA Nozzle Where Teeth Should Be
The source saysA large gap between the upper teeth makes the perfect space for sucking up termites.
The page sayswhose slurping can be heard up to 100 meters away
The source saysSucking sounds the sloth bear makes while eating can be heard up to 330 feet (100 meters) away.

Source
03

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15

AnAge entry for Melursus ursinus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15.

The page saysthe oldest on record, a wild-born female in captivity, lived to 33.3 years
The source saysRecord longevity in captivity belongs to one wild born female that was 33.3 years of age when she diedNote: "oldest on record" is the source's "Record longevity"

Source
04

Dhamorikar et al. 2017

Dhamorikar et al. (2017). Characteristics of human - sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) encounters and the resulting human casualties in the Kanha-Pench corridor, Madhya Pradesh, India. PLOS ONE.

The page sayssloth bears caused the highest number of human deaths of any wild animal between 2001 and 2015, and ranked second overall for human casualties there
The source saysSloth bears (Melursus ursinus) caused the highest number of human deaths between 2001 and 2015 and ranked second compared to other wild animals in causing human casualties in the Kanha-Pench corridor area.
The page saysthe highest number of human deaths of any wild animal
The source saysWildlife-inflicted fatalities numbered 47 in the past 15 years, the majority ( n = 16) due to sloth bears, followed (in descending order) by wild pig, tiger, and jackal
The page saysOf 166 attack victims researchers interviewed
The source saysWe interviewed 166 victims of sloth bear attacks which occurred between 2004 and 2016
The page saysthe largest group had been collecting forest produce
The source saysthe greatest number of those (42%) occurring during the collection of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP)
The page says63 percent did not see the bear before it attacked
The source saysA total of 63% ( n = 105) of victims did not see the bear before it attacked

Source
05

Dharaiya, Bargali & Sharp 2020

Dharaiya, Bargali & Sharp (2020). Melursus ursinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T13143A166519315.

The page saysVulnerable
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.