Giant sloth bears

The dark brown sloth bear (Q. "meglituika"; pl. "meglituikar") is a native of northwestern Harad and is especially prevalent in the Umbar region. It is the largest bear species in Middle-earth. A huge, slow-moving, stupid creature that resembles a cross between a conventional bear and the sloth of the rain forests, the sloth bear has formidable claws that it uses primarily for digging the huge networks of tunnels that make up its home. They can even dig through soft or crumbling rock. These tunnel complexes are more than ample enough for Men to live in, if they so desire. Sloth bears have little fear of other creatures and while not overtly aggressive, they will not let other creatures stand in their way, literally "digging" through them, if necessary.

Large and fat (2500 to 4000 lbs), sloth bears are difficult to kill. Their vital organs are well protected by their huge bulk. Many loremasters claim that, either their skulls are unusually thick, or their brains are not in their heads (no sage or wizard has ever made a careful dissection of one!), or sloth bear brains are not vital organs, for head blows rarely even slow them down. Sloth bears eat whatever they can get their claws on, in the mass quantities required to maintain their massive size.