A monkey with bright pinkish-orange lips and a black face, hidden high in the treetops of a Congo rainforest, has just been formally recognised as a new species — only the fifth African monkey discovered in the last 75 years. The animal, known locally as Likweli, was first glimpsed in a single blurry photograph in 2008, but scientists did not confirm its existence until nearly two decades later, after a decade-long search involving audio recordings, genetic analysis and interviews with villagers.
The new species has been given the scientific name Colobus congoensis, honouring the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where it lives. It belongs to the colobus group of monkeys, which are unusual because they lack thumbs. The monkey is mostly black, with a long tail and a distinctive orange-cream patch around its mouth and nose, giving it a mask-like appearance. Researchers recorded its call — a resonant, roaring sound — and noted that the animals are shy, often hiding high in the canopy. Between 2018 and 2022, there were 114 sightings across an estimated range of 1,700 square kilometres in Lomami National Park, a protected area in east-central DRC.
“A new monkey species with orange lips discovered in DR Congo, only the fifth in 75 years.”
The discovery was led by an international team from DRC, the US and Germany, including PhD student Junior Amboko from Florida Atlantic University. They interviewed people in 52 villages near the monkey's habitat, but only residents of eight villages had seen it. Amboko described the feeling of looking into the face of an animal so few people knew existed as "amazing". The findings were published in the journal PLoS One.
For UK readers, this story highlights how much of the world's biodiversity remains undocumented, especially in remote tropical forests. It also underscores the threats facing newly discovered species: the researchers have proposed that Colobus congoensis be classified as endangered due to its small range, hunting pressure (it has been sold as bushmeat) and habitat loss. The UK, as a significant funder of international conservation and a consumer of products that can drive deforestation, has a role in protecting such species. The discovery also showcases how genetic analysis and acoustic recordings are transforming the way scientists identify new animals, without needing to kill them.
Q: How do scientists officially discover a new monkey species? A: Discovery means confirming through genetic, anatomical and acoustic evidence that a population is evolutionarily distinct. For Colobus congoensis, researchers analysed DNA, measured physical features, and recorded its unique call, which diverged from its closest relative 4–5 million years ago.
Q: What is special about Colobus congoensis compared to other monkeys? A: It has a prominent pinkish-orange lip patch and a black mask-like face, a lack of thumbs (like all colobus monkeys), and a distinctive roaring call. It is also the fifth African monkey species described in 75 years, highlighting its rarity.
Q: Is this monkey already at risk of extinction? A: Yes. Scientists have proposed an IUCN Red List classification of endangered because of its very small range (1,700 sq km), limited population, ongoing hunting for bushmeat, and habitat conversion. Protection of Lomami National Park and community engagement against hunting are critical.
What happens next depends on conservation action. The research team stresses that the most important steps are to enforce protection within Lomami National Park, where most of the monkey's range lies, and to work with local communities to stop hunting. The formal classification as a distinct species should make it easier to attract funding and legal protection, but the monkey's future remains uncertain.