UK NEWS

POP SINGER GOES APE FOR CHARITY

Wednesday August 22,2007

By Rod Mills

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SINGER Paolo Nutini has adopted an orang-utan after his cover of a song from The Jungle Book became a hit at shows.

The chart sensation became involved with animal charity Sepilok after he sang ’I Wanna Be Like You’ at a string of summer concerts.

After learning about the threat of extinction the animals are facing in Borneo, he pledged his support and has now become the proud parent of baby orang-utan Sen.

And the 20-year-old, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, has hit out at the practice of killing the creatures and destroying their habitats to replace them with oil plantations.

In a message to fans on his website, Paolo said: “I think that anyone who takes the time to read or look into the dangers facing orang-utans and their environments, cannot help but support the workings of Sepilok.

“I don’t see how this destruction can be condoned and I hope that you can take the time to raise awareness about such dangers and help preserve a future for these amazing, interesting apes.

“We as a band have adopted baby Sen and can only encourage you to do the same.

“I mean, the lives of these lovely, intelligent apes for Palm Oil. It has to stop.”

Paolo’s cover of The Jungle Book classic has been included on a new special edition of his debut album These Streets which was released on Monday.

The two-disc releases features live versions of Paolo’s songs which were recorded during his appearance at the Isle of Wight festival in June.

I Wanna Be Like You is sang by orang-utan King Louie in the 1967 Disney film version of The Jungle Book.

Sepilok is dedicated to the rehabilitation and preservation of threatened orangutans and their habitat in the Sabah region of Malaysian Borneo.

A spokeswoman for Sepilok said: “Paolo Nutini has pledged his support, along with his bass guitarist, Michael McDaid, to the Appeal and to helping save the endangered orang-utans.

“The Band have adopted baby Sen and are encouraging their fans to do the same.

“They also held a collection for the charity on their tour bus and we are very grateful for all their help.”

A spokesman for Paolo said: “The cover of I Want To Be Like You prompted Paolo and the boys from the band to get involved with orang-utan charity Sepilok.”