New monkey species discovered in the forests of Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, scientists have described a new species of monkey, scientifically named Colobus congoensis (known locally as "likwali"). This is only the fifth new primate species discovered on the African continent in the past 75 years.

This rare animal was first photographed back in 2006 during an expedition to the Lomami National Park. However, specialists were only able to re-record its presence and begin detailed scientific research in 2018. Genetic and morphological analyses confirmed that the species is closely related to black colobus monkeys.

The habitat of these primates is extremely limited, as they are found only within an area of about 1.7 thousand square kilometers between the Lomami and Lilo rivers. Due to the high vulnerability of the species, scientists are calling for its inclusion in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List to prevent the threat of total extinction.