At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The drill is a stocky forest monkey closely related to the mandrill, with a dark face and colourful rump. It is assessed as Endangered.
It lives in large groups on the forest floor of west-central Africa.
Range & habitat
Forests of Cameroon, Nigeria, and Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea).
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Hunting for bushmeat
- Habitat loss
- Fragmentation
Why it matters
One of Africa's most threatened primates with a small range, the drill is a flagship for protecting the forests of the Nigeria-Cameroon border region.
Sources
Sources for Drill
- IUCN Red List — look up Drill (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the drill related to the mandrill?
They are close relatives in the same genus, both large, ground-dwelling forest monkeys; the drill has a black face, while the mandrill has the famous red-and-blue face.
Why is the drill Endangered?
Published assessments cite hunting for bushmeat, habitat loss, and fragmentation across its small range. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
Last updated: