VETS at Marwell Zoo often treat a range of exotic animals from giraffes to leopards and even sloths.

So when Jemima Deák's black and white ruffed lemur teddy suffered an injury, she asked the vets team to help fix him up.

The stuffed toy, called Mark, was purchased by the 11-year-old at the zoo with her mum Zsuzsanna whilst visiting family in Winchester but a few months after his adoption, Mark's left eye fell out.

Seeking the best treatment for her new toy, Jemima wrote to the zoo's vet department and sent Mark off for treatment.

The letter read: "At a visit in Marwell Zoo I bought a lemur for £8, I had named him Mark.

"A few months later, when I was going to sleep, I noticed that the eye was gone. I searched around and I found it on the floor.

"I was wondering if there was any chance whatsoever that you could fix him? Here is Mark and his eye.

"I really like Marwell Zoo and all the animals, its my favourite zoo I didn't want to leave."

At the end, she added: "Please send Mark back even if he is not fixed.

"I do absolutely not want another lemur!"

A few weeks later, Mark was returned home with a bandage on his head and a letter explaining that he has sustained a "serious injury".

The Marwell vets team, along with help from receptionist Amanda Gates, had reattached Mark's eye.

The letter read: "Mark was anaesthetised so that his eye could be surgically repaired, whilst asleep we performed a full health check and found that he is in good condition excluding his obvious injury to his eye, and it is clear he has been well looked after by you.

"He has been hospitalised with us and we now feel his is ready to return home with some support from you, his owner."

As well as a bandage around his head, Mark returned home "medication", instructions for Jemima about how to administer them and his own previous "treatment sheet" the team had filled out.

The letter concluded: "The veterinary team have all grown attached to Mark and will miss having his around."