S CLUB 7 GO WILD!


Trekking with elephants, hanging with orang-utans and swimming with seals. S Club 7 listen to the call of nature and go exploring with WWF!

S Club 7 have teamed up with WWF to help raise awareness about endangered species and each 7 has decided to champion one particular species. This year, the 7's have been given the chance to visit the habitats of these animals. So Jon, Tina and Jo head off for Malaysia, Thailand and China. Hannah and Brad left for Brazil and Turkey, while Paul and Rachel headed for Kenya and Siberia.

Jon, Jo and Tina in the jungle!
Jon can't wait to meet an orang-utan face to face. "I love these animals," says Jon, "but I can't believe that in 10 years' time, there may be none left alive." However, in order to hang out with the 'tans, Jon has to trek through the Malaysian jungle and then bed down in a little hut overnight, listening to the sounds of all the wild animals... and those pesky mosquitos.

Next stop is Thailand for Jo's encounter with some Asian elephants. "The Asian elephants are under threat because a lot of their natural habitat is being destroyed," says Jo. "But did you know the elephant is the 10th most intelligent mammal on earth? These creatures are so amazing." Just how amazing, Jo finds out when she finds herself looking straight down the trunk of a rather large one.

Then it's on to China and Tina attempts to track down one of only 1000 giant pandas in existence in the wild. "I've always thought pandas are really special," says Tina. "It's incredible that I'm hopefully going to meet one close up!" And no trip to China is complete without a night out in a karaoke bar, but will the three 7's be able to sing in Chinese?

Brad and Hannah in the heat!
It's off to the tropics for Brad and Hannah as they head off to Brazil so Brad can check out the local bird situation - the hyacinth macaw, that is. "These birds are amazing," says Brad. "But a lot of them are caught and sold as pets and there are now ony 3000 left in Brazil." Brad is also set to find out that the hyacinth macaw is very active on moonlit evenings, Hmmm, remind you of anyone?

Next up it's a flight to Turkey and it's not long before Hannah's snorkelling, hoping to catch sight of the monk seal. "The monk seal is Europe's rarest mammal, and there are only about 500 of them left," says Hannah. "So it will be unbelievable if I manage to catch sight of one while I'm out swimming!"

Paul and Rachel go to extremes!
It's safari time as Paul and Rachel touch down in Kenya. Paul's hoping to see some rare black rhinos. "In the past 25 years, 95% of the black rhino population in Africa has been wiped out," says Paul. "There are now just 2000 left, so it will be amazing to see some in the wild." Not too close though Paul, cos rhino can charge at speeds of 30mph - a touch faster than you can sprint!

From the heat of Africa, Paul and Rachel then set off to the freezing temperatures of the far east of Russia. Rachel is hoping to catch up with some Siberian tigers, by hitching a ride with the anti-poaching brigade. "Three species of tiger have already become extinct in the past 100 years, " says Rachel. "And the Siberian tiger could be next. We have to do something."