Scientists have discovered a previously undiscovered monkey species, Likweli, deep within the Democratic Republic of the Congo's jungles, highlighting the Central Congo Basin's incredible biodiversity and the critical need for its protection.
The discovery, which included audio recordings, photographs, and in-depth genetic research, was spearheaded by Junior Amboko, a PhD candidate at Florida Atlantic University.
In 2008, local conservationists first reported the sighting of this unusual species; however, they only managed to capture a single, blurry photograph.
The newly recognized monkey, technically designated Colobus congoensis and colloquially known as "Likweli," was discovered in Lomami National Park, according to Florida Atlantic University experts.
The discovery is especially remarkable because it is only the sixth new monkey species identified in Africa in the last 75 years, as seen on Reuters.
