Known as Baloo in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, the sloth bear (a.k.a. the honey bear) has been brought to the attention of conservationists due to troubles enforcing the laws protecting it. The last count done in 1979 estimated that there were about 8,000-22,000 sloth bears left in the wild. Most of the remaining bears are scattered throughout India and Sri Lanka; however, there have been reports of sloth bears in Bangladesh as well. The biggest threat to this species is of hunting and poaching. The governments of India and Sri Lanka currently have laws in place to protect the sloth bear, but they are neither enforced nor effective. To survive, this bear needs help.

Even though the sloth bears are trained to look tame and docile in circuses, they are the most short tempered of the bear family. In encounters with humans, sloth bears have been known to cause more damage than tigers. When threatened, the sloth bear will stand up on two legs (they stand about 2 to 3 feet tall), and brandish their forepaws as a weapon. On their forepaws are huge claws that resemble those of the sloth, hence their name, and can grow to be several inches long.

Therefore, sloth bears prefer not to have any dealings with humans; however, overpopulation and loss of habitat has made it difficult for them to live their solitary lifestyle. Sloth bears are usually only active at night; however, with food becoming increasingly scarce, sloth bears are becoming more active during the day as well. The bears eat mostly termites and ants; however, during monsoon season, they will also eat mangos, figs, and other fruits. Another one of the bear's favorite treats is honey. Sloth bears can frequently be found up in a tree using their claws to bring down bee hives so they can eat the honey inside. The mating season for the sloth bear is between May-July, usually the hottest months in India. Mating pairs stay together for only about one to two days after which two cubs are born about 6 or 7 months later. The cubs are born in an underground den and usually stay there for about three months, when they venture out with their mother. One of the unique features about the sloth bear is that when a mother bear is traveling with her young, the young travel on her back. They use the long, shaggy fur on their mother's back to hold on to while traveling. By carrying her cubs this way, the sloth bear mother can ensure their safety as sloth bears are frequently attacked by tigers and hunted by humans.

Currently, the sloth bear has been recognized as an endangered species and is threatened with extinction in Sri Lanka. In 1994, the Species Survival Plan (SSP) was put in place for zoos by the AZA (American Zoo & Aquarium Association). It has been recommended that the North American zoos should take the lead in creating the sloth bear international studbook; however, so far, nothing has been done.

To save this species from extinction, new breeding plans must be put in place to develop a sustainable ex situ population that may be capable of supporting the in situ population that remains. Also, the laws that are currently in place in India and Sri Lanka for the protection of sloth bears against hunters need to be strictly enforced and trading of sloth bear organs for the Asian medicinal market must be stopped. In addition, nature reserves need to be set up in areas where there are already sloth bear populations. The only way to save this species now is by taking some aggressive steps to stop illegal hunting and trading and try to keep human and bear interaction to a minimum.