Meet the Orange‑Lipped Monkey Hidden in Congo’s Jungle

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:48:55 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Scientists discover a new monkey species with bright pink‑orange lips living high in Congo's forests.

A mysterious black‑furred primate with a striking pink‑orange mouth, found in the canopy of Congo’s Lomami National Park, has been officially named Colobus congoensis. First spotted in 2008, researchers combined photo‑DNA, audio traps and village interviews to confirm its uniqueness. The new species is now formally protected and its secretive habitat is under threat from hunting and forest loss.

Meet the Orange‑Lipped Little Monster of the Congo

Scientists finally nailed down a mysterious monkey with bright pink‑orange lips that had been hiding in the high canopy of Congo’s jungle. Colobus congoensis, just discovered, was first spotted in 2008 but only recently collected enough data to call it a new species.

The research team—made up of DRC, US and German scientists—used a mix of photo‑DNA, audio traps and local interviews to map the tiny population. Only a handful of villagers had ever seen the shy primate, which lives over 300 meters up in the trees.

Colobus monkeys are big, hair‑less thumbs… actually they don’t have thumbs at all and are real forest food‑processors. Their big dreaming face and roaring call are a sign that a new species is ready for the books.

"The loud roar is our signal," says Junior Amboko. “It sounds like it could even help us pick a mate!”

The discovery matters because the new monkey is under threat from hunting for meat and habitat loss. By naming it Colobus congoensis, the team hopes it will get formal protection, a rare win for Congo’s hidden biodiversity.

Next steps include a full population census and more behaviour studies—so stay tuned for more updates from the misty Congo jungles.