Sloth bears help shape dry deciduous forests, study finds

A study from Rajasthan's Aravalli hills has found that sloth bears help shape dry deciduous forests by dispersing viable seeds and influencing plant regeneration. The research was conducted in the Kumbhalgarh and Todgarh-Raoli wildlife sanctuaries, covering about 1,100 sq km of dry deciduous forest, scrubland and grassland.

Researchers collected 180 scat samples between November 2021 and July 2022. They found that bears switched from a fruit-rich diet in winter to an insect-rich diet in summer. Ants appeared in over 80% of winter scats, while termites were found in over half of summer scats. The study also found that seeds of the invasive shrub Lantana camara germinated only after passing through a sloth bear's digestive system, suggesting the animals may also help spread the invasive species.

Co-author K.S. Gopi Sundar said the study shows bears influence many plant species to germinate more and faster than naturally. The authors noted the unusual La Nina weather during the study period likely made insects more accessible in summer. The findings highlight the sloth bear's role in maintaining forest composition.