The cutest photobomb EVER? Moment sloth gatecrashes jungle camp holiday snap

Claims: In these days of Photoshop trickery this picture purporting to show a sloth gatecrashing a holiday snap in the jungle may be too good to be true

In these days of Photoshop trickery this picture purporting to show a sloth gatecrashing a holiday snap in the jungle looks too good to be true.
But that's exactly what youngsters on an International Student Volunteers expedition in Costa Rica claim happened right in front of their eyes.
In what looks like a scene from Madagascar, the cute critter lowered himself down into the frame as the group smiled for the camera - or at least so swears anthropologist Manuel Ramirez.
The 44-year-old ISV tour guide said: 'There was a big group of us helping cut paths in the jungle.

Star of the show: The sloth pictured with the group shortly after it had reportedly 'photobombed' the group photograph

'I thought it would be nice to take a group shot. As I looked through the camera lens I could see something creeping in to the frame.
'When I realised it was a baby sloth I clicked the button as fast as I could, not that he was going anywhere fast.
'I thought it was too good a picture opportunity and so rather than move I just took the picture with him in it.

Teamwork: Young volunteers from across the world come together for the project to help cut paths in the dense woodland to allow researchers to get around

'It has become a bit of a talking point for everyone. None of us will ever forget the trip, especially when we look back at this picture.
'I'm glad we saw the sloth that day as he made us laugh when we were very tired. Now we can share this moment with all our friends.'
Young volunteers from across the world came together for the project to help cut paths in the dense woodland to allow researchers to get around.

source: dailymail

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Forget Homer Simpson and Jim Royle... Meet the Sloths, the new (and adorable) stars of lazy TV

By EDDIE WRENN


Smile for the camera! The quirky and cute sloths are about to star in their own documentary

We are used to welcoming lazy, chubby sloths into our homes via the TV set.
Jim Royle manages to impart some life lessons from the comfort of his chair, Rab C Nesbitt amuses us with his unemployed, alcoholic life, and even Homer Simpson manages to have adventures despite wanting nothing more than his sofa and a Duff beer.
But now Meet the Sloths - a cheeky family of mammals predicted to become the new meerkats when their documentary launches next week.

What you looking at? The sloths will have to get used to stardom once their show goes out to UK audiences

These lovable tree-huggers live in the confines of a Costa Rican sanctuary and spend their days hanging off a climbing frame, or getting bathed by their human carers.
The documentary was the brain-child of Lucy Cooke, whose clips of sloths on YouTube were watched by six million people.
Meet the Sloths, which has already aired in the States, premiers on Animal Planet UK on Sunday.
On SlothVille.com, Lucy says she had her first encounter with sloths when she visited Aviarios, near Limon in Costa Rica, which is the world's only sloth orphanage.

Sloths of the past: Homer Simpson and Jim Royle have spent years entertaining us with their lazy ways

She said: 'I traveled 5,000 miles to a sleepy corner of Costa Rica to meet an animal I first saw on Youtube.
'I made my own little video about the sanctuary sloths, “Meet the Sloths”, which went viral within days.
'The video has now been watched by over six million people and gathered famous fans like Ashton Kutcher, Ricky Gervais and most recently Kristen Bell.'

A Simples life: Meerkats became a huge hit thanks to their cheeky adverts

The two-minute clip bought attention to the Sloth Sanctuary, founded by husband and wife team Luis and Judy Arroyo.
The couple, along with volunteers, teach visitors about the way of the Sloth, and passengers from passing cruise ships regularly make a stop at the sanctuary.
There they can help feed and clean the sloths, who usually arrive at the orphanage after being hit by cars or being electrocuted by overhead cables.

All grown up: The sloths started life in the orphanage, but are now flourishing as TV and web stars


Star of the show: Lucy Cooke with one of her lazy but adorable staff

source: dailymail

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Life in the slow lane: Hundreds of orphaned sloths given a new lease of life at Costa Rican sanctuary

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Peckish: One of 100 sloths being given a second chance at a Costa Rican wildlife sanctuary


Tucking into a tasty carrot snack, this bright-eyed baby sloth is making a happy recovery after being orphaned just days into its young life.

The adorable creature is just one of 100 being cared for by volunteers at the Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica, Central America.

Some are barely the size of a human hand and wouldn't have stood a chance if left alone in the wild.

But they have been given a new lease of life thanks to the centre which was set up by married couple Luis Arroyo and Judy Avey-Arroyo after an orphaned sloth was brought to their door by neighbours 18 years ago.

Since then the couple have been inundated with other sloths in need of care and attention.

Ranging from a few days to more than ten years old, the animals are hand-reared by a team of volunteers.

Over the years the centre has proved quite a draw with tourists who visit the centre to catch a glimpse of the rarely-seen creatures.

Photographer Roland Seitre, 52, took these heartwarming pictures while visiting with his family.



Breakfast time: The baby sloths are given their first meal of the day


Hanging out: The orphan sloths take regular exercise at the sanctuary


Weight-watchers: The sloths require regular monitoring to check their growth rates


Mr Seitre, who lives in France, said: 'The sloths are very cute animals and they seem very quiet and docile but they can be fast when they want to be.

'They're not stupid. With claws larger than a jaguar's they can be dangerous if they're threatened.

'At the centre they don't seem to be too bothered by people, some will interact with the visitors.'

Sloths, found in the rainforests of Central and South America, usually grow to just under two feet long and can live up to 40 years.

The animal is best known for its slow movement but, if under threat from a predator, it can travel up to 13ft in a minute.

Its large claws allow the sloth to live in tree tops, many eat, sleep and give birth while hanging from branches.

Despite its lazy reputation, the animal is thought to only spend around ten hours sleeping each day.


Eat your greens: A young Hoffmann's two-toed sloth enjoying his vegetables. The creatures have proved a draw with tourists


Docile: The sloths' calm environment means many of them interact regularly with visitors to the sanctuary


Heading up: Sloths spend much of their lives in the treetops


source :dailymail

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