Twycross Zoo: Molly Badham » Twycross Zoo

Twycross Zoo: Molly Badham
20-10-2007

Molly Badham, co-founder of Twycross Zoo has died, aged 93.

The 93-year-old co-founder of Twycross Zoo, who was a passionate defender of exotic animals, has died.
Molly Badham helped build the largest collection of primates in the world at the zoo, located on the Leicestershire-Warwickshire border.

She began taking in chimpanzees in the 1950s and was well-known for training the chimpanzee stars for tea adverts.

In 2002 she received an MBE for her services to the conservation of endangered species.

Mrs Badham established Twycross Zoo in 1963 when her menagerie outgrew her small bungalow.

She started running a pet shop in Sutton Coldfield before setting up the Twycross Zoo in 1963 with business partner Nathalie Evans.

Mrs Badham often kept baby chimpanzees at her home and would feed them with bottles and dress them in nappies.

The chimpanzees in the tea advertisements were dressed in clothes and rode bikes - and loved to drink tea.

The revenue raised from the PG Tips advertisements was used to help pay for the running of the zoo.

Speaking about her tea-drinking chimpanzees, she said: "Another could pour tea without spilling it. And they loved riding bicycles. Tea parties used to be a highlight both for the chimps and visitors to the zoo."

Mrs Badham once shared a flat with zoo co-founder Nathalie Evans and they had two chimpanzees living with them.

One day they returned home to find the chimps throwing clothes and other belongings out of the window to a crowd gathered in the street.

She worked for decades with exotic animals and was a member of the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens.

She published two books: Chimps with Everything in 1979 and Molly's Zoo in 2000.

In 2003, she moved from her home in Norton Grange to Tree Tops bungalow on the grounds of the zoo.
BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Trainer of tea advert chimps dies

20-10-2007

Sad. Whos running the zoo now?

20-10-2007

sorry to hear that, she has left a fantastic zoo behind her, with some amazing breeding results, a sad loss.

20-10-2007

This is very sad news. She built a very fine zoo with an original idea to keep only primates. A Sad loss to the zoo world.

Twycross Zoo: Molly Badham
21-10-2007

Molly Badham retired in April 2004 when Sue Boardman became Director. I don't know what she would have thought of all the latest developments which seem to be more for the benefit of the public than the animals. We used to see her driving round the zoo checking on her animals and once saw her in an enclosure playing with adult chimps. A sad loss.

21-10-2007

She achieved a great deal, in partnership with Nathalie Evans. Twycross Zoo will be a lasting memorial to her love for primates.

Alan

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21-10-2007

I have only been to twycross once, and it was not to see primates, but they have a fantastic collection, and it is something that her family should be proud of.

From your notes skoop, it seems she was one of those inspirational people, rather like Peter scott who spend a large proportion of their life dedicated to animals and their conservation/welfare.

21-10-2007

Is Nathalie Evans still alive??

21-10-2007

Yes Nat`s alive and well but she did give every one a big scare early in the year.Molly will be sadly missed but her death came as no great surprise to many people at Twycross as she had been realy ill for quite some time before.