Welcome to my "animal horror movies" series, where I ask you what animals deserve their own horror movies and why they do or don't! Inspired by @NorthwestRider and his animal-themed questions.
I've asked a similar question about polar bears, so now we're talking about the sloth bear!
Sloth Bears aren't that big, their lengths being 4'7-6'3, being 2-3 feet tall at the shoulders and weighing 200 to 300 pounds. But it's not the size that counts, it's what you do with it!
Sloth Bears would rather munch on fruit, honeycombs, and insects than your flesh. However, they are armed with 3-inch long claws. Tigers are known to kill and eat sloth bears, and while they can climb, leopards will also attack them. To make matters worse, Indian rhinoceros and Asian elephants will charge them on sight. So sloth bears don't run unless it's a fade.
Because they're surrounded by nothing but opps (humans included), sloth bears have not only the tools of a predator, but also the mindset of prey. And that is a terrifying combo, because it means they are deathly unpredictable and could attack you with little or even no provocation!
And if they do attack, it will NOT be pretty. They don't believe in the Bear Necessities, because when attacking, they typically aim for the face. Sloth bear attacks can be described as being done by an animal "with the intent, but not necessarily the knowledge to kill."
If a sloth bear mauls you, you can expect to have your face or scalp ripped open, or to lose an eye (s), a nose, ears, and even have your cheeks bitten through. And if you're especially unlucky, you'll not only die, but also have your flesh eaten. At best, you can never use IPhone face ID again. At worst, you're not having an open-casket funeral.
So what do you think? Do sloth bears deserve their own horror movie or not?
