There may only be a thousand individuals left
A previously unknown monkey species has been found in the mountains of southern Tanzania.

The animal is believed to be a critically endangered species, with no more than perhaps a thousand individuals remaining.

The highland mangabey, as it is called, lives in the trees and is thought to be closely related to the baboon family.

Full details of the discovery were revealed on Thursday in the journal Science.

Tom Butynski was one of the first scientists to track down the secretive monkey. He said it was a great thrill to be only the second or third primatologist to see the animal.

"Your mouth drops open and a big smile appears on your face," he told the BBC News Website. "You say 'wow'!"

Surprise find

Dr Butynski was part of a US research team visiting the Ndundulu Forest Reserve to investigate sightings of the Sanje mangabey, a rare "cousin" of the new species.


Researchers have good photographic evidence
Unbeknown to them, a different team of researchers working a few hundred kilometres away in the southern highlands of Tanzania was also on the animal's trail.

"These monkeys have probably been there for hundreds of thousands of years," said Dr Butynski. "What are the chances of two independent projects finding the animal within a 10-month period?"

The other research group, led by Tim Davenport of the New-York-based Wildlife Conservation Society, had been searching the area for many months after hunters spoke of seeing a strange animal known locally as the Kipunji. They finally spotted the monkey last year.

"This discovery proves that there is still so much to learn about the more remote and less well-known areas of Tanzania, and Africa as a whole," said Dr Davenport.

Survival threat

The existence of such a large mammal living out of sight for so long has astounded biologists. It is more than two decades since the last discovery of a new African monkey.


The monkey is brown with a black face
Russell Mittermeier, of IUCN - The World Conservation Union, said it demonstrated how little we knew about our closest living relatives, the non-human primates.

"A large, striking monkey in a country of considerable wildlife research over the last century has been hidden right under our noses," he said.

The highland mangabey (Lophocebus kipinji) is brown with a distinctive soft "honk-bark" call. It lives as high as 8,000ft (2,450m) above sea level and has long fur to withstand the cold.

Scientists believe there are two or more populations living in forests near the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. But with so few individuals left, they fear its future is in jeopardy.



From: Godfrey Owenya

There may only be a thousand individuals left
A previously unknown monkey species has been found in the mountains of southern Tanzania.

The animal is believed to be a critically endangered species, with no more than perhaps a thousand individuals remaining.

The highland mangabey, as it is called, lives in the trees and is thought to be closely related to the baboon family.

Full details of the discovery were revealed on Thursday in the journal Science.

Tom Butynski was one of the first scientists to track down the secretive monkey. He said it was a great thrill to be only the second or third primatologist to see the animal.

"Your mouth drops open and a big smile appears on your face," he told the BBC News Website. "You say 'wow'!"

Surprise find

Dr Butynski was part of a US research team visiting the Ndundulu Forest Reserve to investigate sightings of the Sanje mangabey, a rare "cousin" of the new species.


Researchers have good photographic evidence
Unbeknown to them, a different team of researchers working a few hundred kilometres away in the southern highlands of Tanzania was also on the animal's trail.

"These monkeys have probably been there for hundreds of thousands of years," said Dr Butynski. "What are the chances of two independent projects finding the animal within a 10-month period?"

The other research group, led by Tim Davenport of the New-York-based Wildlife Conservation Society, had been searching the area for many months after hunters spoke of seeing a strange animal known locally as the Kipunji. They finally spotted the monkey last year.

"This discovery proves that there is still so much to learn about the more remote and less well-known areas of Tanzania, and Africa as a whole," said Dr Davenport.

Survival threat

The existence of such a large mammal living out of sight for so long has astounded biologists. It is more than two decades since the last discovery of a new African monkey.


The monkey is brown with a black face
Russell Mittermeier, of IUCN - The World Conservation Union, said it demonstrated how little we knew about our closest living relatives, the non-human primates.

"A large, striking monkey in a country of considerable wildlife research over the last century has been hidden right under our noses," he said.

The highland mangabey (Lophocebus kipinji) is brown with a distinctive soft "honk-bark" call. It lives as high as 8,000ft (2,450m) above sea level and has long fur to withstand the cold.

Scientists believe there are two or more populations living in forests near the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. But with so few individuals left, they fear its future is in jeopardy.



From: Godfrey Owenya

Hi Chloe,
Thanks very much for informing me to this new web. I like it and I am happy for that. Now we will be entouch through this web, How is Australia now? Arusha is still bit hot.
Say Hi to your friends.
Hope to hear again form you.
Godfrey.......!