Valentine’s Day love-in at Butterfly Creek

Four cotton-top tamarin monkeys will be welcomed to their new home in Butterfly Creek's Tropical Butterfly house on Thursday.

The monkeys are a critically endangered species and, in the wild, are now found only in the Central American country of Colombia. Adults weigh much the same as a small container of butter.

It's just a short trip up the motorway from their previous home at Franklin Zoo, which recently closed its doors due to the tragic death of Helen Schofield, its owner and curator.

John Dowsett, Butterfly Creek's general manager, says his staff were delighted to be assist with re-homing the tamarins, which will enjoy the warm, balmy conditions of their new home.

Ay, Merida, Chaska and Miracle are expected to settle in quickly with the Butterfly Creek family of tropical creatures including giant saltwater crocodiles, butterflies, tarantulas and the collection of reptiles and creepy crawlies near Auckland Airport.