Recent footage of a rare monkey species in the Democratic Republic of Congo was shared, marking the first official time this creature has been captured on film.
According to Outdoors, footage of the Foa’s red colobus was taken by Izaak Antoine Malengela, who works with the Wildlife Conservation Society.
“A very rare sight from Kabobo Wildlife Reserve in Democratic Republic of Congo,” wrote the WCS in a Facebook post, per Outdoors.
“Very rare sight” may even be an understatement in this case, as the Foa’s red colobus is an Old-World monkey, with such sparseness in population, an actual consensus on how many are left is fairly unknown. The post went on to say it was “the first ever footage of this Endangered species.”
“The primary threats facing red colobuses are poaching for the commercial bushmeat trade, and habitat loss due to mining, logging, and agriculture,” reported the New England Primate Conservancy.
Documentation of rare or elusive species is always cause for celebration, especially amongst wildlife enthusiasts. Not only is it a treat to see these hidden animals come out, but it confirms the surrounding ecosystem is doing something right.
The manual shot of this monkey was lucky and proves the attentiveness of the wildlife activist behind the camera. Another way endangered species are being monitored is with the use of trail cameras. With this technology, more shy or scarce species can be located and observed, allowing for the gathering of information and, in turn, supporting conservation efforts.
A rare baby beaver was caught on a trail camera recently, as well as the final herd of buffalo left in Thailand.
The video of the red colobus shows not one, but two of the monkeys, marked with their bright reddish orange tips of hair, sitting on a tree, content as can be.
Commenters on the WCS’s Facebook post shared the awe of these majestic, rare creatures.
“Well done on getting this video. I know it isn’t easy to see them, let alone film them,” one person said.
Another person added, “Wonderful news. Thank you for sharing.”
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