Meet the Likweli: The orange-lipped monkey hidden in DR Congo
About this episode
The episode discusses the discovery of a new monkey species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known as the Likweli.
A monkey with striking orange lips and a black furry coat has been officially recognised as a new species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was first spotted back in 2008, but at the time researchers only managed to capture a blurry photograph, leaving many questions unanswered. Years later, after extensive fieldwork and research, scientists have finally confirmed it as a species new to science. They've named it “Colobus congoensis”, while local communities have long known it as “Likweli”. Our BBC Science Correspondent Victoria Gill reveals what makes this monkey so special and how researchers finally solved the mystery of its identity. Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Emily Horler and Stefania Okereke Editor: Verity Wilde
People in this episode
Host: Hannah Gelbart
Topics covered
- new species
- monkey
- biodiversity
- scientific discovery
- DR Congo
- wildlife conservation
Keywords
- orange-lipped monkey
- Likweli
- Colobus congoensis
- new species
- DR Congo
- Victoria Gill
- wildlife
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC World Service
Products: Colobus congoensis
Places: Democratic Republic of the Congo, DR Congo
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