CELEBRITY conservationist Bill Oddie wasted no time in getting in touch with his namesake adopted ‘son’ at Dudley Zoo.

The former Goodie, who grew up in Quinton, followed up on a recent visit to open the Castle Hill tourist attraction’s £20,000 Baboons on the Bank exhibit with a letter to Billie, a baby Gelada baboon.

The star adopted the nine-week-old primate during his visit and pledged to follow the young animal’s progress.

Dudley Zoological Gardens head of media and communications, Jill Hitchman, said: "Bill had a great time at the opening and was really interested in our animal collection.

"He's very knowledgeable about exotic species and has spent time with great apes in their natural habitat, so he was keen to learn more about our conservation projects.

"He was very pleased with his adoption pack when he received it from CEO Peter Suddock, and when he left the zoo he promised to keep in touch, but we were quite surprised when his amusing letter arrived addressed to Billie.”

In the letter Bill Oddie said: “It's funny to think of you growing up very near to where I did. I even went to Dudley Zoo when I was a boy. Believe me, it has changed a great deal since then, and all for the better. I am sure you will be very happy there.”