Meet the world’s most dangerous bear: it battles tigers, hangs out with leopards, and attacks more humans than any of its ursine brethren. Oh, and it recently escaped from centuries of slavery. This is the story of India’s sloth bear, and it’s anything but slow.

Of the eight bear species in the world, the sloth bear is the least understood. Scientists are learning more about this unique species that’s tough enough to share the jungle with Bengal tigers. The sloth bear is a fighter, but its drive to survive makes it dangerous to humans. It mauls or kills so many people each year, it’s been called the deadliest bear on earth.

But humans have done their fair share of harm to sloth bears, too. For centuries, they were captured and enslaved as “dancing bears,” tortured to entertain tourists. It took an incredible effort – and some dramatic undercover work – to free the bears, and the fight’s not over yet.

Source: https://roaring.earth