Good News from the Heart of Africa: Meet Likweli, the New Monkey Species Discovered in the Congo

Some wonderful news from the heart of Africa- scientists have officially confirmed a remarkable new species of monkey living high in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Known locally as Likweli and now scientifically named Colobus congoensis, this rare and elusive primate is as distinctive as it is mysterious. With glossy black fur, striking orange-cream markings around its mouth and nose, and deep, distinctive roaring calls, Likweli is unlike any other known African colobus monkey.

And perhaps most incredibly, this little-known species has been living in the Congo rainforest all along - largely hidden among the treetops.

A discovery almost two decades in the making

The story of Likweli's discovery began back in 2008, when conservationists captured a blurry photograph of an unidentified monkey during an expedition in what is now Lomami National Park.

The image offered researchers an intriguing clue, but it wasn't enough to prove that the animal represented a completely new species.

Then, years later, researchers began seeing the mysterious monkey again.

Between 2018 and 2022, scientists recorded 114 field observations, allowing them to study the animal's appearance, behaviour, vocalisations and habitat in much greater detail. Genetic and morphological analysis ultimately confirmed what researchers had suspected: this was not simply an unusual example of a known species, but a species new to science.

It is an extraordinary achievement and a reminder that even in 2026, there are still animals living on our planet that science is only just beginning to understand.

Meet Likweli

So, what makes Likweli so special?

First, there is its appearance.

The monkey has a predominantly glossy black coat and a distinctive orange-cream patch surrounding its mouth, philtrum and parts of its lower nose. It also has a characteristic white patch around the rump.

But its appearance isn't the only thing that sets it apart. Likweli also has a distinctive voice.

Researchers recorded deep, resonant calls that resemble the roars of other colobus monkeys, but acoustic analysis revealed a structure unique to this species. These powerful calls can carry through the forest canopy, helping the animals communicate across their dense rainforest home.

Likweli is also remarkably elusive. It lives predominantly high in closed-canopy forest, making it difficult to spot and even harder to study.

Researchers estimate that its known range covers only around 1,700 square kilometres, a relatively small area for a wild mammal population.

One of Africa's rarest new discoveries

Perhaps the most remarkable part of this story is just how unusual this discovery is.

Likweli is only the fifth new species of African monkey to be identified in the past 75 years.

That puts this discovery into a much bigger conservation and scientific context. While new species are still being described around the world, formally identifying a previously unknown monkey species in Africa is exceptionally rare.

And it tells us something important about the Congo Basin. There is still so much we don't know…

The forests of the Congo Basin are among the most biologically rich ecosystems on Earth. Their enormous scale, dense vegetation and remote landscapes mean that many species remain difficult to study. Discoveries such as Likweli demonstrate just how much biodiversity could still be waiting to be understood.

But there is a worrying side to the story

While the discovery is undoubtedly something to celebrate, it also comes with an important warning.

Scientists believe Likweli is already at risk.

The species appears to have a very restricted distribution, and researchers are concerned about the combined impacts of habitat loss and hunting. Based on its limited range and population concerns, the research team has proposed that Likweli should be considered Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

That means the world has barely had the chance to meet this remarkable animal before we have to start thinking seriously about how to protect it- a powerful example of the delicate relationship between discovery and conservation.

Finding a species is only the beginning. The real challenge is ensuring that it survives.

Protecting the forests that protect wildlife

The discovery of Likweli shines a spotlight on the importance of protecting places such as Lomami National Park, where much of the species' known range is found.

Protecting a rainforest isn't simply about protecting the trees.

It means protecting the thousands of species that depend upon those forests for food, shelter and survival. It means protecting complex ecosystems that have evolved over millions of years. And it means working alongside the communities who live within and around these landscapes.

Researchers have highlighted both the protection of Likweli's forest habitat and engagement with local communities as crucial to the species' future.

A reason to celebrate conservation

For those of us who work to protect wildlife, stories like this matter.

Conservation news can so often be dominated by heartbreaking statistics - animals lost to poaching, habitats disappearing and species pushed closer to extinction.

But Likweli gives us hope that there are still secrets hidden within our world's forests and hope that science and conservation can work together to uncover them.

Our hope is that when we discover something extraordinary, we can all choose to protect it.

Every new species we discover gives us another reason to protect the natural world and another reminder of just how much we stand to lose if we don't.

Here's to Likweli: a remarkable new chapter in our understanding of Africa's wildlife, and a powerful reminder that our planet still has so much left to reveal.