Animal rights activists at PETA have asked Michael Jackson's family to let them have the King of Pop's rat song "Ben" as a new anthem.

The late pop superstar had a hit with the odd tune in the early 1970s, when he was still a member of the Jackson 5, and now PETA bosses want to use the ballad to raise awareness of the plight of rodents used in laboratory experiments.

The tune, written for the 1972 film of the same name, is about the friendship between a lonely boy and his pet rat.

PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman tells WENN, "Michael Jackson's hit has always been a moving testament to the power of empathy for animals. If more people could be inspired by his song to stop supporting the cruel and ineffective animal-testing industry, it would be a fitting and enduring tribute to this talented performer."

Image © PR Photos

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)