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Zoo Launches 'Endangered Song' To Help Save Tigers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Smithsonian's National Zoo wants to highlight the dwindling number of 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild by launching an "endangered song" on Earth Day.

On Tuesday, the zoo is releasing "Sumatran Tiger," a song from the indie rock band Portugal. The Man. The song was recorded on 400 polycarbonate records that were designed to degrade after a certain number of plays. The only way to save the song is to digitize and "breed" the music by sharing it through social media. It's is being released to 400 participants to share.

Zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson says it's a new way to demonstrate how endangered tigers are in the wild.

Zach Carothers of the Portland-Ore.-based band says they're asking radio stations and other musicians to spread the word.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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