A newly recognized species, Colobus congoensis, also known as Likweli, has been identified. It is only the fifth new African monkey species described in the past 75 years.

First sighted in 2008, the monkey was found in the remote forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo by a team from the Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation. Initial evidence was a blurry photo taken in Lomami National Park showing a monkey with distinctive features.

Junior D. Amboko, a Ph.D. student at Florida Atlantic University, noted that the original unclear image was overlooked. However, interest renewed after a sharper photo taken years later revealed the monkey’s unique appearance, including its shaggy black hair and an orange patch around the face. The image caught the attention of Mr. Amboko and John Hart, a director at the Wildlife Research Foundation.

Between 2018 and 2022, researchers embarked on a detailed study of Lomami National Park. The team recorded monkey calls and interviewed residents from 52 villages. People in eight villages recognized the orange-faced monkey, known locally among the Balanga ethnic group as Likweli.

The experts found that the Likweli monkey is isolated in a small forested area in northeastern Congo, covering approximately half the size of Rhode Island. Its limited range contributes to its obscurity, both to locals and the scientific community, according to Mr. Amboko. Additionally, the monkeys exhibit shy behavior.