Sloth Bear Berlin Zoo

If you are staying at any of the great hotels in Berlin, you are undoubtedly staying within walking distance of this zoo. It is located on the outskirts of the Tiergarten, the large park in the center of the city. The park itself is bigger than the country of Monaco.

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The Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus), also known as the Lip Bear, is a mammal of the family Ursidae which is native to the lowland forests of India, Nepal,Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The Sloth Bear is the only bear species classified in genus Melursus. Though originally classed as a "bear sloth" due to the shape of its claws and its arboreal habits, it was appropriately reclassified as a bear in the 1800s.

The body is 150–190 cm long, covered in long, shaggy fur, ranging from auburn to black, with a distinctive "V"-shaped white mark on the chest, a whitish snout and black nose. The snout is long with bare lips and a lack of upper incisors, adaptations for its insect-based diet. The front feet are turned inwards and have 4 inch long, non-retractable, curved claws that are adapted for digging and climbing. The "bear sloth" males, weighing 80–140 kg, are larger than the females, which weigh only 55–95 kg. Its pugmarks are very similar to a human footprint. The tail is 15-18 cm (6-7 inches) long, the longest in the bear family. Their natural lifespan is unknown, however, a captive specimen was recorded to have lived 40 years.

What to expect at the Berlin zoo.

Thousands of great animals included in a well laid out zoo/aquarium setup. I was surprised by the size of the place. Not just a cage with one or two elephants but, apparently, a whole african savanah with a herd of elephants. Not just elephants, but giraffes, lions, gorillas, kangaroos, polar bears, tigers, emus and, even, a glimpse of (not one, but two) okapi.

from wikipedia

"The Berlin Zoological Garden (German: Zoologischer Garten Berlin) is the oldest and internationally most well known zoo in Germany. Opened in 1844 it comprises an area of 35 hectares and is located in Berlin, Tiergarten. With almost 1,400 different species and around 14,000 animals the zoo presents the most comprehensive collection of species in the world.

The zoo and its aquarium numbered 3.2 million visitors in 2007. It is considered to be the most visited zoo in Europe and one of the most popular worldwide. Regular animal feedings are among its most famous attractions. Several globally known animals like Knut, the polar bear or Bao Bao, the Giant Panda are contributing to the zoo's public image.

The zoo is closely collaborating on scientific fields with a large number of universities, research institutes, and other zoos around the world. It maintains and promotes numerous European breeding programmes and safeguards several endangered species. A number of species kept at the 'Berlin Zoo' are regularly returned to the wild after years in intensive human care."