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Justin Bieber monkey settling in at German animal park

Canadian singer Justin Bieber's monkey is settling into a new life at a German safari park after being seized by custom authorities earlier this month.

Mally, a 23-week-old white-headed capuchin, arrived at Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen last Sunday, but will be in quarantine three more weeks before being integrated with his monkey family of three males and three females.

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Located about 160 kilometres west of Berlin, Serengeti Park is home to 1,500 animals over two square kilometres.

"We are making all necessary preparations in order to ensure that Mally has the best possible transition to his new home and has no problems integrating with others of his species," Fabrizio Sepe, managing director of Serengeti Park, said in a statement released Friday.

Mally was seized by German customs on March 28 after the 19-year-old Stratford, Ont.-raised pop star failed to produce the proper vaccination and import papers when he landed in Munich for a European tour.

The release from Serengeti Park also notes that it is home to another young capuchin named Molly that is about the same age as Mally.

"That works out well. We are convinced that the integration will go off without a hitch," said Sepe. "In addition, Mally is from a totally different breed group. This diversification is a great advantage for the further development of our existing group of monkeys."

A spokesman for German customs had earlier said that Bieber would be sent a bill — estimated to be around $1,300 Cdn — to cover the cost of Mally's care.

Earlier this week, police said they were investigating Bieber for possible reckless driving after a neighbour complained that he was allegedly driving his ferrari at highway speeds in a gated community in Los Angeles.