Likwelis are known for their timid nature, often darting up into the tree tops when humans approach.
However, during Junior Amboko’s initial encounter with them in the Congolese rainforest, the monkeys appeared quite willing to be observed.
“I was face to face with them, and we kept gazing at one another. They noticed my presence and couldn’t seem to look away,” shared Amboko, a PhD student at Florida Atlantic University, in an interview with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal.
“I just kept snapping pictures, and they seemed to say, ‘Alright, go ahead, take your photos. We’re here for you.’
Amboko has contributed to a new research paper that classifies these elusive monkeys as a distinct species. The results were published in the journal PLOS One earlier this week.
‘It’s a significant discovery’
The monkeys, which have been assigned the scientific name Colobus congoensis, inhabit Lomami National Park in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Though newly recognized by scientists, the creatures are already familiar to some local villagers, who refer to them as likwelis.
However, local awareness is quite limited. Researchers surveyed 52 communities around the monkeys’ known habitat, discovering that only eight had residents who could identify and discuss the monkeys.
Two likweli monkeys in Lomami National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Daniel Rosengren/Frankfurt Zoological Society/Reuters)
“It’s incredible that we’re still identifying new species of primates,” stated Laura Bolt, a primatologist from the University of Toronto who was not involved in the research. “Even with our technological advancements, there is still so much we have yet to learn about our environment.”
This discovery marks the second new monkey species identified in the park since 2012, leading researchers to speculate there may be additional undiscovered primates.
“This is a major indicator on the maps that this area is crucial for exploration, discovery, and conservation of biodiversity,” co-author Kate Detwiler remarked. “So, it’s a significant discovery.”
It all began with a fuzzy image
The Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation first spotted a likweli back in 2008, but they could only obtain a blurry image.
“Regrettably, this photograph didn’t provide much detail about what we were observing,” said Amboko, who joined Lukuru in 2014.
It wasn’t until a decade later that researchers captured new, clearer photographs of the monkeys.
On this occasion, Amboko noted they observed that the monkeys have deep black fur, white patches on their tails, and distinct “orange cream pigmentation” on their lips.
“We realized … we were looking at something quite unusual,” Amboko stated.
Junior Amboko, a PhD student in biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University, in Lomami National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Submitted by Junior Akombo)
The researchers dedicated the next several years to searching the park for more of these orange-lipped monkeys. Between 2018 and 2022, they observed them 114 times across an area of 1,700 square kilometers.
Despite Amboko’s fortunate first encounter, he mentions that likwelis are typically shy creatures, often climbing high into the trees to avoid being seen.
This behavior likely explains why they have eluded detection by researchers and most locals for so long.
Unique calls and a peculiar scent
However, other methods exist for locating likwelis. One approach is to listen for their sounds.
“When they haven’t noticed you yet, they typically emit a sound we refer to as a roar,” Amboko explained.
Researchers have documented six occurrences of these roars. Amboko believes this may be their way of “marking their territory” to other likweli groups.
Researchers have identified a new species of monkey in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Called Colobus congoensis, it is commonly known as Likweli by local communities. Credit: Daniel Rosengren, Frankfurt Zoological Society/Bernard Bonanga
If visual or auditory cues fail, you might consider using your sense of smell.
Amboko describes likwelis as having a very strong, unusual, and distinctive scent, something he finds hard to compare to anything else.
“Imagine being in a room where you can smell the environment, and then we introduce a likweli; you would definitely notice a difference,” he remarked.
-
Chimps are sticking grass and sticks in their butts, seemingly as a fashion trend
-
Chimps and bonobos remember friendly faces even after decades apart, study finds
Despite having documented their sounds, scents, and sun-kissed lips, many aspects of likwelis remain a mystery to scientists.
What is their population size? What is their diet? When do they reproduce? And perhaps most intriguingly, where are their young?
“We’ve yet to encounter a baby likweli,” Amboko expressed. “This has puzzled us. Why is that? Other monkeys in the area are seen with their infants … clinging to them. But the likweli? Not a single sighting yet.”
Amboko aims to focus his dissertation on the likweli, eager to begin uncovering their secrets.
“If we consider the journey of the likweli as having 1,000 steps, this initial step was to describe the species,” he explained. “Now that we have identified them, we still need to explore their behaviors.”
Tag: rewrite-pending