New Monkey Species Discovered in DR Congo Forests

An international team confirmed a new species of colobus monkey in the dense tropical forests of Lomami National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Conservationists initially spotted the primate, notable for its striking pinkish-orange lips and black face, in 2008 but lacked conclusive evidence until now.

Researchers spent years gathering audio recordings, photographs, and genetic data to verify the monkey’s unique status. This discovery marks only the fifth new African monkey species identified in the last 75 years, and the animal is locally known as Likweli.

The team named the species Colobus congoensis and believes it plays a vital role in seed dispersal within the forest ecosystem. They also noted the monkeys are elusive, with sightings reported by people in only eight of the 52 villages surveyed. Researchers are now focused on estimating the population size and understanding the behavior of this rare and potentially vulnerable species, hoping its official classification will enable conservation efforts.