New Monkey Species Discovered in Congo Rainforest

A team of researchers working in the Democratic Republic of Congo announced the discovery of a new monkey species, Colobus congoensis, after nearly two decades of observation and analysis. The initial blurry photograph of the monkey surfaced in 2008, but it wasn’t until 2018 that researchers obtained clear images revealing unique characteristics, distinctive orange and white markings around its mouth and eyes.

The discovery relied heavily on the expertise of Junior Amboko, a field conservationist who first spotted the monkey, locally known as Likweli. Amboko later joined Kate Detwiler’s primate lab to help catalogue the findings and confirm the species’ distinction through DNA and bone analysis.

The team published their study this week and recommended the species be classified as endangered due to its limited habitat. The researchers celebrated the culmination of their work with a shared moment of gratitude and mango juice.