Monkey discovered in Congo Rainforest
Researchers working in a remote part of the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have made an astounding discovery - a new monkey species.
Known to the locals as 'lesula',
the new primate was found in a remote forest region between
the three rivers of Tshuapa, Lomami and the Lualaba. The area is also
home to bonobos, okapi, forest elephants
and Congo peacock. The researchers believe that other primates spotted in the area are
also yet to be categorised by science
The new discovery highlights the importance of DRC's rainforest, providing a refuge for several large mammal species driven to extinction in other African countries and ranking fifth in the world for overall biodiversity.
The rainforests of DRC lock in more than 17 billion tonnes of carbon, as well as having more than 40 million people directly depending on them for their resources and livelihoods. Cool Earth will be launching an innovative community-led rainforest protection project in the South Kivu province of eastern DRC in early 2013.
SOURCE: PLOS
Photo by Hart et al.
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