The monkey is only the fifth new primate species identified in Africa in the past 75 years. Researchers confirmed the discovery through genetic, photographic and acoustic analyses after conservationists first spotted the animal in Lomami National Park in 2008 but lacked sufficient evidence.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Patrick Beznoska;

The new species has been named Colobus congoensis, believed to be the first primate named after the Democratic Republic of Congo. The discovery was led by researchers including Congolese PhD student Junior Amboko, who said it highlights both the Congo Basin’s extraordinary biodiversity and how much of the region’s wildlife remains undocumented. It also underscores the importance of protecting one of Africa’s richest rainforest ecosystems.