Congo's 'Orange-Lipped Monkey' Confirmed as New Species After 20 Years

A monkey with a striking facial appearance, first glimpsed in the dense forests of Congo's Lomi National Park two decades ago, has now been officially identified as a new species. This primate is distinguished by a unique orange hue around its mouth and nose, resembling a mask, a feature not seen in other known monkey species.

The discovery adds a fifth new monkey species identified in Africa over the past 75 years. The scientific community, including researchers from the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation and Florida Atlantic University, confirmed the new species of Old World monkey, formally naming it 'Colobus congoensis'. The findings were published in the online journal PLOS One.

The monkey was first photographed in 2008 during a field survey, but the images were too blurry to warrant immediate attention. It wasn't until 2018 that a researcher from the Lukuru Foundation captured clearer images, initiating a more focused investigation. Over the next decade, researchers conducted extensive field studies, including land surveys, dawn chorus monitoring, and guided explorations, successfully observing the monkey 114 times.

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The photo was not clear enough, so no one paid attention at the time.

Local communities also provided valuable insights. Interviews with residents of 52 villages revealed that eight communities were already aware of the monkey, with some even naming the region where it was found 'likweli'. The monkey, described as having a body length of about 1.3 meters and weighing around 7 kilograms, communicates with a sound reminiscent of frog croaks. Its most remarkable feature remains its facial coloration, with orange skin around the lips and below the nose, a trait similar to some Asian colobus monkeys.

Analysis of three confiscated specimens, obtained after they were illegally hunted, allowed researchers to conduct detailed studies of the monkey's appearance, skeletal structure, and genetics, confirming its status as a distinct species. Given its restricted habitat, small population size, and increasing threats from hunting and habitat loss, researchers are advocating for 'Colobus congoensis' to be classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List.

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Given the narrow range of habitat, population size, increasing hunting pressure, and habitat destruction, we propose classifying the likweli as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List.