Wellington Zoo is expecting spider monkey babies in September, for the first time in 14 years.
Five-year-old male Jackie Chan, from Hamilton Zoo, and females Diablo, 8, from Orana Park, and Biddy, 16, from Auckland Zoo were brought to Wellington late last year to boost the zoo's breeding programme.
Biddy has been confirmed as pregnant after a convenient romance with Jackie Chan in their quarantine enclosure.
"It's exciting stuff ... We have a good track record of breeding spider monkeys at the zoo, but it's been a long time," primate zookeeper Vimal Patel said.
"Biddy has already had offspring, so that will be a big help when the babies are born."
It is not yet known how many babies are expected, but once born they will go on display.
Diablo will probably be ready to mother offspring in a few years and it is hoped she will be able to breed with spider monkeys already at the zoo.
The new arrivals are due to join the 14 resident monkeys at the zoo in about two weeks.
Spider monkeys are an endangered species in the tropical rain forests of South America from where they originate.
"They are constantly under threat from habitat destruction and poachers killing the mothers of babies, so the babies can be taken and kept as pets," Mr Patel said.
