Hand-rearing of sloth bear neonates and its nutritional requirements - Sharing experiences of fifteen year

The review is based on our study and experiences of past two decades with hand-rearing of over ninty (90) Sloth bear cubs of different age groups (2 weeks - 2 years) which were confiscated or rescued from various situations like forceful early weaning due to illegal poaching, minimizing the chances of the cubs being completely deprived or received minimal quantity of mother's colostrum milk, making them vulnerable to various nutrition-based health issues, in addition to physiological and psychological stress. The data is based on the study and development of balanced diet for sloth bear cubs according to their essential body nutrients, body weight and age.