In the dense rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where rivers wind as if concealing secrets, scientists have finally confirmed the existence of a monkey that local residents have been calling the "lekweli" for many years. This is Colobus congoensis, the fifth new species of African monkey in the last 75 years, and its discovery is the result of nearly two decades of observation.
Black fur with bright orange-pink lips and light patches around the mouth and nose, a long tail, and a distinctive roar—this is how those who have encountered the lekweli in the wild describe it. The first hints of these unusual monkeys appeared back in 2008, but systematic research began later, and it was not until 2026 that enough data had been collected to describe the species. During this time, only about 114 encounters have been recorded, which speaks to the animal's extreme elusiveness.
Interestingly, local communities did not just know about the lekweli—they gave it a name and, apparently, had been observing it in their daily lives for a long time. Scientists, in turn, emphasize that without this folk knowledge, the search could have dragged on even longer. Such cases remind us how traditional knowledge often complements modern science, especially in hard-to-reach regions.
The range of the new species is small—approximately 1700 square kilometers in the center of the Congo, between the bends of the Lomami River. This makes the population vulnerable: the slightest changes in forest cover or poaching could quickly affect its numbers. The forests of the Congo are one of the last large tracts of tropical jungle where high biodiversity is still preserved, but human pressure is growing.
The discovery of the lekweli shows how little we know about life even in relatively studied ecosystems. Each new species is not just a scientific fact, but a reminder of the complex connections within the tropical forest, where a single monkey can influence seed dispersal and the maintenance of vegetation balance.
Conserving such hidden inhabitants requires not only scientific expeditions but also close cooperation with local residents, whose observations often prove to be more accurate and profound than formal research.
