Who are the newcomers? DJ, who’s 23 months old, and her sister Kibibi, who’s 15 months, come free from the Rosamund Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, N.Y.

When will they get here? Zoo Boise Director Steve Burns said he hopes they’ll arrive within the next few weeks. Weather is a factor, he said, because Delta Airlines, which normally ships animals for the zoo, won’t send them if temperatures at either the departure or destination airport is too cold.

How soon can we see the sisters? After DJ and Kibibi arrive in Boise, they’ll be quarantined for 30 days, Burns said. After that, they’ll be in an enclosure within sight of Incas, the male Patas monkey who survived when Cratey, the Patas monkey Incas grew up with, was killed after a Nov. 17 break-in. If the animals are compatible, all three will live together.

So ... baby Patas monkeys in the zoo’s future? It’s possible. Burns said DJ is reaching the age of sexual maturity and could breed with Incas — assuming they get along.

What’s the story with the new Patas exhibit? In response to Cratey’s death, the Friends of Zoo Boise has pledged to raise $209,000 to build a 1,000-square-foot indoor Patas exhibit. The monkeys would alternate, depending on weather, between the indoor area and an outdoor enclosure that will be expanded after the zoo demolishes its existing Primate House in a few years. The group also is paying to transport DJ and Kibibi from New York to Boise.

What’s the latest in the case against the accused monkey killer? Michael Watkins, the 22-year-old man police say jumped a fence at the zoo and beat Cratey to death, faces felony charges of burglary and grand theft. He’s in jail, held on a $150,000 bond, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

What is the zoo doing to make sure break-ins don’t happen again? Last week, Zoo Boise added razor wire to a section of its fence, and Burns has talked to other zoos about their approaches to security.

Where are Patas monkeys from? They’re found in grassy and woodland areas across central Africa. While they can climb trees, they spend most of their time on the ground, relying on tremendous speed to avoid predators. They can also walk on two feet when they’re carrying something with both hands.

Sven Berg: 377-6275