Halliwell is 'voice' of tiger in charity exhibit at Botanics

SHE may be little heard on the airwaves these days, but former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has just recorded an unusual new "jungle" track.

For Halliwell can be heard via a talking tiger, which is set to take up residence in the Royal Botanic Garden.

It is among a menagerie of brightly coloured creatures designed by artists and celebrities which will turn the Capital into a "Jungle City" as part of a major fundraising exhibition.

More than 100 sculptures of mother and baby elephants, hornbills, crocodiles, orangutans and tigers will be situated in the Botanics from Tuesday as part of a 1 million fundraising drive to save endangered species.

Fifty of the sculptures can "talk" and feature voice-overs by a number of celebrities including Andrea Corr, Dame Rula Lenska and Geri.

Visitors to the Botanics can ask for an audio guide. Each of the talking animals will be numbered and typing the number into the guide will then activate the celebrity voice.

Edinburgh-born comedian Danny Bhoy, radio presenter Grant Stott, actress Lynda Bellingham and actor Brian McCardie are among the other celebrities lending their voices to the animals.

The celebrities voiced the minute-long scripts, which were written by a comedian and are intended to be humorous and child-friendly.

Of the 130 sculptures, six will be situated in Harvey Nichols, two of which - a hornbill and a tiger - will be adorned with Swarovski crystals.

One sculpture - an elephant - will be located in George Street pub The Dome, while the remaining 123 take up residence in the Botanics.

The conservation charity Elephant Family, which is behind the project, hopes it will be Scotland's largest ever outdoor exhibition. It will launch in Edinburgh on Tuesday before the concept is taken around the world.

The collection of jungle animal sculptures will be in place until September 5. They will then be relocated on the streets of Edinburgh the following day until they regroup for one final gathering at the National Museum of Scotland, before being sold at auction in aid of the preservation of Asian elephants.

Among the artists who decorated the animals were Jack Vettriano and Emma Bridgewater.

Halliwell, who painted her tiger pink and is a supporter of the charity, said: "You don't know what you've got until it's gone. Jungle City wants to save our beautiful animals from extinction - help us to do that."

The Jungle City concept is the brainchild of Elephant Family founder and conservationist Mark Shand, who said he was delighted to have "voices" for some of the sculptures.

He added: "It was great fun creating personalities and scripts. This literally brings the exhibition to life." We have everything from rapping orangutans to horny hornbills, and tetchy tigers.

"I'm sure that everyone who visits will enjoy this aspect and I would encourage them all to get their hands on the audio guides."

The auction will take place at the National Museum of Scotland on September 29.

The online auction will go live on September 22. Visit www.jungle-city.org for more information.