It may have been a very slow process but a group of baby sloths have learned to climb by scaling and then swinging from the back of a rocking chair. The young mammals were captured in some heartwarming footage by zoologist and broadcaster Lucy Cooke during a visit to the Toucan Rescue Ranch in Costa Rica. The wildlife rehabilitation centre is unique in that it uses a rocking chair to help teach the orphaned baby sloths how to climb - as the swaying motion is similar to a tree. The baby mammals were filmed learning how to climb at the Toucan Rescue Ranch in Costa Rica The wildlife rehabilitation centre uses a rocking chair to help teach the orphaned baby sloths to climb The centre uses a rocking chair as the swaying motion it creates is similar to that of a tree Lucy, who has been called the 'Spielberg' of sloth documentaries, said she was charmed by the 'eccentric biology' of the animal and has released a calendar dedicated to the creatures. The Sussex-born filmmaker spoke about her love for the laid-back creatures of habit.

She said: 'I love taking photos of sloths - they have such characterful faces. dining table chairs corkMost animals all look the same, but sloths, like dogs, are real individuals - no two look the same.ikea folding chairs for sale 'I was out in Costa Rica taking photos for my sloth calendar and I was particularly charmed by the Toucan Rescue Ranch and this novel method they have for teaching the sloths how to climb because I've not really come across that before.buy peacock chair online The baby sloths were filmed by zoologist and broadcaster Lucy Cooke during a visit to the centreexercise ball chair base

Lucy, the 'Spielberg' of sloth documentaries, said she was charmed by the 'eccentric biology' of the animalhigh heel shoe chair nz The filmmaker and zoologist has now released a calendar dedicated to the little creaturesbest massage chairs 2013 reviews 'As a zoologist I love their eccentric biology but I think you cannot resist an animal that was born to hug and has a natural smile.'swivel chair for sale Sloths can sleep up to 20 hours a day in captivity and according to a study by Swansea University, almost always hang upside down because their organs are fixed to their rib cage.office chair ikea canada Lucy thinks overworked humans can learn a lot from the relaxed lifestyle enjoyed by the creatures.balance ball chair office max

She said: 'The sloth is an energy-saving totem for the 21st century with much to teach us. Lucy spoke about her love for the laid-back creatures of habit and noted their characterful faces Lucy (pictured) thinks overworked humans can learn a lot from the relaxed lifestyle enjoyed by the creatures Lucy said she was charmed by the Toucan Rescue Ranch, where she took her photographs for the calendar 'We'd all like to spend more time resting and snoozing, so the sloth is a strangely aspirational animal - we could all do with slowing down, it would be better for us and the planet. 'I think that's why the sloth calendar is so popular, it's a reminder to be more mindful and mellow - plus those smiles are just so adorable.' For more information on Lucy's calendar or to join the Sloth Appreciation Society, click here. Lucy said that unlike most animals, which all look the same, sloths are like dogs in that they are all individual I think it might be time for a quick nap: Sloths can sleep up to 20 hours a day in captivity

According to a study, sloths always hang upside down because their organs are fixed to their rib cageWith his patterned golf sweaters, casual slacks and creaking white rocking chair Val Doonican was the epitome of twinkly-eyed easy-listening charm. His ready smile and self-effacing wit made the Irish crooner feel like a member of the family and his Saturday night TV show was a national institution. But the much-loved singer, who has died at the age of 88, never let fame go to his head. Despite millions of record sales, five Top 10 albums and the biggest stars of the day queuing up to be on his show, he always kept his slip-on brogues on the ground. He once joked that it had taken him “17 years to become an overnight success” and when he drifted out of the limelight in the 1990s he was more than happy “doing the seniors tour, taking things easy and not being mutton dressed as lamb”. Val died peacefully at a nurs­­ing home in Buckinghamshire on Wed­­nesday night with his wife Lynn and their daughters Sarah and Fiona at his side.

He hadn’t been ill, said Sarah. “It was just old age I’m afraid – the batteries just ran out.” Tonight Sir Bruce Forsyth led tributes to Val, calling him “the kingpin of Saturday night entertainment”. Brucie, 87, said: “Val was a one-off. He had a real warmth about him and that is what I remember most – that musical show with his lovely warm intimate voice and his warm and friendly interviews. “He had this way of relaxing his co-stars and his audience that went right through the screen into your homes. That was an art. On Saturday nights on BBC no one could beat him.” Donegal-born singer Daniel O’Donnell said: “He was a very peaceful man and had a calm persona that came across on TV. But he was a very funny man too and had a great voice.” Irish comedian Roy Walker, who used to be Val’s opening act said: “He was an exam­­ple to everybody: the consummate professional. He was a joy to be with, a pleasure to work with and one of the all-time good guys in showbusiness.”

Born as Mich­ael Valentine Doonican in Waterford in 1927 he was the youngest of eight in a poor family. He recalled his childhood as blissfully happy until he was 14 and his father died of throat cancer. Val then left school to support the family by working in an orange-box factory. But he had been writing and arranging music from a young age and joined a band as drummer. In 1951, aged 24, he joined The Four Ramblers who found fame on BBC radio’s Workers’ Playtime. Dancer Lynnette Rae was on the bill when the Ramblers supported singer Anthony Newley on tour. Newley introduced them and she became Val’s first and lifetime love, marrying in 1962. On one tour, Val stepped forward, guitar in hand, and perched on a stool to sing a couple of ballads and the comedy song Paddy McGinty’s Goat. Afterwards, he was urged to go solo and quickly landed a weekly radio show. He continued to play cabaret too, but couldn’t get a recording contract. But in 1963 he was spotted at a concert by TV boss Val Parnell and booked to appear on Sunday Night At The London Palladium.

That eight-minute spot changed his life. By Monday, there were recording contracts and offers flooding in and he was given his own BBC TV show, which ran until 1986. He had a string of hits with songs such as Walk Tall, The Special Years, What Would I Be and Elusive Butterfly. In 1967 he knocked The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper album off the No 1 spot with his laconically-titled record Val Doonican Rocks, But Gently. Val once explained how the rocking chair became part of his act while he was filming one of his first shows in a converted church studio in Manchester. He said: “This pretty girl wearing a Laura Ashley dress sang a ballad and the producer said, ‘I think that would be better sitting down’. “Someone came up with this rocking chair from the basement. The girl sat in the rocking chair and they gave her a concealed microphone. “The producer told her to rock gently but we kept hearing a noise. She had the microphone in her cleavage and the wires from the bra were making a creaking noise.

“So the producer told her to do the song standing up with a hand-held microphone. But he said they had lovely shots of the rocking chair and suggested that I sat in it and finish the show that way. “I said, ‘Finish on a slow ballad, are you sure?’ He said, ‘trust me’. And he was right. I did that for the next 24 years.” Val’s easy-listening style and TV format saw him labelled as the British Andy Williams or Perry Como and his show helped promote many up and coming acts, including The Nolan Sisters and comic Dave Allen. At its peak his show pulled in audiences of up to 19 million. Val was also famous for comedy songs such as O’Rafferty’s Motor Car, Delaney’s Donkey and Paddy McGinty’s Goat. It was a mark of his enduring success that at a time when The Rolling Stones and The Beatles and The Kinks and The Who were all storming the charts he was still as famous as any of them. Val stopped performing in 2009 after more than 60 years in showbusiness and indulged his passions for golf and painting.

His art was inspired by his Irish homeland and he exhibited around the country. In June 2011 he was recognised by the Mayor of Waterford and given the Freedom of the City in his home town. In December 2013, he said: “My last TV series was in 1990, by which time music shows had had their day. “Although my programmes remained popular, the format had reached a natural end. I became a bit dated, but I carried on performing live. “In Australia and New Zealand I completed 18 concert tours, not to mention all my shows in the UK and Europe. I stopped performing after more than six decades in the business. “I’m not recognised in the street much now – not that I mind. I was never dizzy with stardom and didn’t take it too ­seriously.” Val, who also leaves his two grandchildren Bethany and Scott, was given the famous rocking chair as a gift after his final BBC show. He said: “It remained in my garage for years until my daughter, Sarah, said she’d like it.