Endangered monkey arrives at Wellington Zoo

Bronx, a rare golden lion tamarin has joined Wellington Zoo to help with the international conservation breeding programme. Photo / Supplied

A rare golden lion tamarin has arrived at the capital's zoo, with keepers hoping the newcomer will settle down and start a family.

Bronx, named after his original home at New York's Bronx Zoo, joins female tamarin Clementine at Wellington Zoo.

He replaces Orolito, who died last year of a liver disease.

It is hoped the new pair would contribute to the international conservation breeding programme.

Bronx arrived at Wellington Zoo after a brief stint at Auckland Zoo.

After being introduced to each other over the last two weeks, he and Clementine have have settled into their home together at the zoo's Mini Monkey habitat.

Golden lion tamarins almost went extinct in the wild in the 1970s, but the conservation breeding efforts of zoos brought them back from the brink.

Wellington Zoo work alongside Rio de Janeiro's Associacao Mico-Leao-Dourado to manage wild golden lion tamarins populations.