A band of cheeky Bolivian squirrel monkeys have begun their heath check-ups at Wellington Zoo after arriving from France.
All of the squirrel monkeys will have their ears, blood, weight, and teeth checked. They will also have an identification patch shaved that makes them easier to tell apart while they are in quarantine.
Zoo staff are excited about getting up close and personal with the little creatures in The Nest Te Kohanga.
"They will be pretty exciting to have around," said zoo spokesperson Libby Callander. "However, I won't be surprised if they use their cute innocence to get away with being the cheeky wee monkeys that they are proving to be!"
The Bolivian squirrel monkey is an energetic, social monkey from the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Wellington Zoo will be keeping 17 of the 30 that arrived last week. Five have already been sent to Brooklands in New Plymouth and another eight will move to Auckland Zoo in April.
They will be on display for Wellington Zoo visitors in the next two to three weeks.
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