# Scientists confirm Colobus congoensis, a new colobus monkey species with orange lips and a frog-like roar, in the DRC's Congo Basin
> A Yale-led team has formally described Colobus congoensis, a striking black primate with orange lips and loud, roar-like vocalisations, photographed first in 2008 in what became Lomami National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo; the species may already be endangered

**Meta:** type: event · date: 2026-07-15 · heads: التحوّل الصامت, ما الذي تعطّل · 5 takes · 4 lenses · 2 regions

## Summary

Scientists have formally described a new colobus monkey species, Colobus congoensis, locally known as "Likweli," from the Congo Basin rainforest in the [Democratic Republic of Congo](/ar/entity/democratic-republic-of-congo). A Yale-led team began tracking the animal after wildlife researchers photographed a black monkey in 2008 in a remote forest area that later became Lomami National Park. The monkey is distinguished by orange lips, black fur, and loud vocalizations resembling a frog's roar and snort. Scientific American notes the species may already be endangered before any formal IUCN assessment.

## Why it matters

New primate species discoveries are rare and mark the outer edge of what is still unknown in one of Earth's most biodiverse but conflict-affected regions. The DRC Congo Basin holds more undescribed species than almost any other intact tropical forest.

## What to watch

- Whether the IUCN assigns an endangered status to Colobus congoensis on a fast-track assessment
- Whether conflict and mining pressure in eastern DRC accelerates habitat loss in Lomami National Park before protections are formalised

## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens)

### University press release from the lead institution; describes the Yale team's role in the formal description and the species' canopy habitat
- **Yale News** (United States, en) — Yale News announced that Yale researchers helped formally describe the new species, Colobus congoensis, living high in the canopies of the DRC Congo Basin. The announcement coincides with publication of the peer-reviewed study and gives the institutional context for the long identification process that began with a 2008 field photograph.
  > "Yale researchers have helped to describe a new species of Colobus monkey living high in the forest canopies of the Democratic Republic of Congo."
  Source: https://news.yale.edu/2026/07/15/meet-likweli-new-monkey-species-discovered-congo-basin

### Science journalism; provides the scientific name, physical description and range detail for a general audience
- **Live Science** (United States, en) — Live Science named and described the species, Colobus congoensis, emphasising the distinctive orange lips and the roar-and-snort vocalisation pattern that distinguishes it from related colobus. The piece notes the species is restricted to a defined area of Congo rainforest.
  > "A striking new monkey species, Colobus congoensis, was discovered deep in the Congo rainforest and has been scientifically described for the first time."
  Source: https://www.livescience.com/animals/primates/orange-lipped-monkey-that-roars-and-snorts-deep-in-congo-rainforest-is-new-species-to-science

### Leading science magazine; flags the conservation risk, noting the species may already be endangered
- **Scientific American** (United States, en) — Scientific American highlighted the immediate conservation concern: Colobus congoensis may already be endangered before a formal assessment has been completed, given habitat pressure in the eastern DRC.
  > "The new species, Colobus congoensis, may already be endangered."
  Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/scientists-discover-a-remarkable-new-monkey-species-with-orange-lips-and-a-froglike-roar/

### unlabelled
- **Mongabay** (United States, en) — 
  Source: https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/new-colobus-monkey-likweli-confirmed-in-drc/
- **Discover Wildlife** (United Kingdom, en) — 
  Source: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/colobus-congoensis-congo

## Across the graph
- Related: [[drc-conflict-dossier]]
- Entities: Democratic Republic of Congo

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Canonical: https://rbtfl.xyz/ar/n/likweli-colobus-jul15