Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Status: Vulnerable. Sloth bears are at risk because much of their habitat has been decimated. They are also poached for their body parts: teeth, claws, paws, and they have been captured for use in entertainment.

According to Indian mythology and ancient scriptures, Lord Brahma created Jambavanta, King of Bears to help Ram defeat Ravana.

The Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic that tells the tale of Prince Rama who is an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu. Rama is exiled from the kingdom by his father at the urging of his stepmother. For fourteen years, Rama lives in the forests with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana, until Sita is kidnapped by a rival demon king Ravana.

Ram and Lakshmana gain allies in their quest to rescue Sita, among them Hanuman the monkey king born of the wind god Vayu, and Jambavanta King of Bears who sprang forth when Brahma yawned. These, and others who were born of the gods were sent to aid Lord Vishnu in this incarnation, to defeat the demon and win back his wife.

Jambavanta was also present before humans were created, and was mentioned in the Samudra Manthana. In this legend it is told that devas and asuras (gods and demons) cooperated to churn the cosmic Ocean of Milk, removing the poisons that would destroy all creation and creating the nectar of immortality. Moved by compassion to save the universe, the god Shiva consumed the poison and this turned his throat blue, and why he is also known as Neelakantha "blue-throated".

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