The Congo Basin, one of the world's most biodiverse regions, has revealed 742 new species of animals and plants between 2013 and 2023, according to a recent WWF report. This area, the second-largest continuous tropical rainforest globally, is home to over 15,000 plant species and hundreds of animal species, including endangered mammals like forest elephants, chimpanzees, bonobos, and various gorillas.
The newly identified species include a diverse array of invertebrates, plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, some of which are entirely unique, such as peculiar orchids, new coffee species, clawed frogs, electric fish, and even a new monkey. However, the report emphasizes that while these species are newly documented in scientific literature, many have been known to local indigenous communities for generations.
The Congo Basin extends beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo, encompassing ten countries and defined by the Congo River. The new species were discovered in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. The WWF underscores the necessity of conservation efforts in this vital region, advocating for the protection of its ecosystems against threats from oil, gas, logging, and hunting.
Martin Kabaluapa, WWF's regional director for the Congo Basin, stated, 'Our collective efforts can ensure that future generations inherit a world where the call of the lesula monkey still echoes through the treetops, and where peatlands and forests continue to sequester carbon for the well-being of people and our planet.'