When a Bengal tiger pinned it to the ground, a sloth bear sprang back to counterattack and chased the predator away.
The clip was recorded by Arpit Parekh, a guide at the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve.
According to Arpit, the tiger was resting when it suddenly sprang up, dashed into the bushes, and attacked the sloth bear. During the struggle, the tiger managed to pin the bear down and gained the upper hand.
However, despite being injured, the bear stood up and used its claws to launch a counteroffensive. Not only that, but it also chased after the tiger and bit back, forcing the Bengal tiger to flee.
In the end, they decided to call a truce and went their separate ways. Arpit believes that the fierce confrontation may have been due to both animals wanting to claim a scarce water source.
Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) are omnivorous mammals primarily found in the forests of South Asia. They are solitary and tend to be nocturnal. Adult male sloth bears can weigh up to 140 kg, while females weigh around 95 kg. These animals typically feed on insects, fruits, and honey.
