[7] The black colobus monkey is found in Equatorial Guinea, south west Cameroon and central and north-western Gabon.

[8] The distribution of the black colobus has decreased dramatically - the species is now rare or absent in some areas of its range due to its habitat being destroyed for logging.

Other remaining large populations are found in the Foret des Abeilles in central Gabon and Douala-Edea Reserve in Cameroon.

[2] The black colobus is an arboreal species that lives high in the canopy of dense rainforest and occasionally coastal sand dune or wooded meadows.

[3] Black colobuses are unable to survive in secondary forest that has regrown after a major disturbance such as logging and therefore tend to avoid areas populated by humans.

[3] Black colobus groups are sometimes joined by single male crested mona monkeys (Cercopithecus pogonias).

[3] Black colobus monkeys do not have a specific breeding season, but most mating occurs during rainy times of the year.

Females do not have a sexual swelling as seen in other primate species and give birth to a single baby after a gestation period of around 195 days.

[14] Black colobus babies are carried around by the mother and spend time playing with other members of the group as they grow in order to learn and socialise.

[3] The species has faced population declines due to logging and illegal hunting for the fur trade which began in the 19th century.

[10] Today, black colobus monkeys are mainly traded for their meat and account for 20% of the bushmeat sold in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea.

[17] The black colobus monkey is listed under Appendix II of CITES, which restricts international trade of the species.