A ‘SCIENCE rapper’ is to perform at Chester Zoo after being inspired by a campaign to save orangutans from extinction.

Jon Chase has teamed up with England’s top visitor attraction outside London as part of its mission to increase demand for sustainable palm oil.

The main threat to the survival of orangutan populations in the wild is the massive expansion of palm oil plantations in Borneo and Sumatra

Jon will perform specially created material at the zoo on Saturday and Sunday, August 4 and 5, as part of a summer-long Wild Worlds festival.

He said: “Unsustainable palm oil plantations are destroying wildlife habitats. But we all consume vegetable oils, and palm oil is the most efficient oil crop, so the more I find out about sustainable palm oil, the more I think: ‘Wow, this could have a great impact, and it’s really important.’

“So it’s crucial that we communicate the science in many different ways – people are different and you can’t expect one message, said in the same way to appeal to everybody. Rap is just one way to spread the word, but ultimately, imagine the effect if the whole word listens.”

Jon’s science raps have featured on the likes of CBeebies, CBBC and Channel 4 Learning.

He has previously performed at The Science Museum, The Royal Society, The Royal Institution and was once named education’s next best thing after producing a science rap for NASA about astrobiology.

The Wild Science Rap will be one of many live events for visitors between July and September as part of Wild Worlds, Chester Zoo’s first gardens and science festival.

Pre-school children’s favourite Mr Bloom from CBeebies will make an appearance at the zoo on Sunday, July 29, at 11am and 1pm, telling a bundle of veggie stories, playing gardening games, and singing nursery songs for ‘tiddlers’ and parents alike.

Young families will also be charmed by a live action puppet show, Compost Mentis, from August 9 to 12.

On August 18 Cheshire Dance will perform a Flamingo Dance Duet at the zoo, drawing upon the grace and quirks of flamingo life.

Dolly the life-sized giraffe puppet will wander the zoo from August 25 to 27.

Before all that, on Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29, visitors of all ages can join artists from the Awekids Collective to discover the sounds that plants make, which have been recorded using a number of sonic technologies and then turned into music for a new installation.

Visitors will also be invited into the world of the honey bee on August 4 and 12 and September 1 when the world of natural beekeeping will be revealed at the zoo’s new Honey Bee Garden.

All events and installations are free with normal zoo admission.

  • The live Wild Science Rap event will take place on August 4 and 5 at 1.30pm, 3pm and 4pm. The accompanying music video will also be played throughout the summer in the zoo’s Islands habitat Sumba Room.