Message from a Monkey

Molly Badham, director of Leicestershire's Twycross Zoo, is accustomed to her zoo's chimps making the place famous. After all, these were the chimps she taught to "talk" for the famous television tea commercials - to the amazement and wonder of children ever since!

Sad news, then, for Molly when she discovered that Jambo the chimpanzee had developed a sore rash all over his chest and most of the rest of his body. It was obviously sore and distressing him - and sadly, he had also lost his hair. Bald and blotchy, poor Jambo was ostracized by the other animals and seemed to be leading a very sad and lonely life. The zoo's team of keepers contacted zoos worldwide for help, but failed to find a treatment. As a last resort, they called on local writer Jean Brown to help. She specializes in natural remedies and recipes using hedgerow plants. Her ointment, known as a balm, has a good reputation for soothing cases of psoriasis in humans.

She thought there was a chance it might help the chimpanzee ... though applying it was not so easy. In the end Jambo was sedated, and, while he lay unconscious on the floor, he was covered liberally in the balm. He was given it regularly for several weeks and also put on a special diet which cut out bananas and citrus fruit. The balm is made from goat's milk, herbs and hedgerow plants - plus another ingredient which Jean Brown chooses not to reveal.

The zoo keepers had no real faith that the balm would clear up the rash. It was just better than nothing. So they were delighted when not only did it clear the rash but Jambo also regrew his hair. His chimp friends welcomed him again and he was no longer left in isolation. Back went Jambo to live a normal life again, leaving Molly Badham to cope with the crowds. The people who had heard Jambo's story on Midlands TV were anxious to put the balm to better use. They wanted to try it themselves on their balding heads.