General Information About the Okapi

It is sometimes called the forest giraffe, as it is the only other member of the Giraffidae (giraffe) family.

However, it is very different in appearance and behaviour from it's closest relative, the giraffe.

This unusual animal species is also called the makapi by local inhabitants of that area, the Mbuti pygmies.

Natural Location

It's only found in the wild in Ituri Forest (an equatorial rain forest), in the north-eastern corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire).

The Ituri Forest covers about 23,000 square miles (60,000 square km).

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve was created in 1992, and consists of about one-fifth of the Ituri Forest. The reserve is now designated as a World Heritage Site, because it has several other interesting and endangered species cohabiting the area, like the forest elephant. The okapi is not on CITES endangered species list.

Okapi Characteristics

• Like the giraffe, it is also long-necked and long in limb.
• It has a soft, velvety, chestnut-brown coat, with a purplish tint.
• It's dark coat absorbs heat, so it avoids bright sunlight and prefers very shady areas.
• The upper parts of its legs and rump are marked with white and black transverse stripes.
• It has a tuft of hair at the end of its brown tail.
• Males and females are similar in size, reaching about 5ft 3ins (1.6m) around the shoulder.
• Only males develop a skin-covered horn. Females just have small knobs, (or hair whorls) called ossicones, as a substitute, instead.
• Diurnal feeding habits - mainly browsing. Prefers to feed on forest undergrowth, and foliage.
• Very long prehensile tongue, and use it for grooming their faces too. They can even reach their ears, and clean them with their tongues! Apparently, it's the only animal known to have this ability.

Okapi's Scientific Classification

The Binomial name: Okapia johnstoni, is in honour of Sir Harry Johnston, Governor of the British Protectorate of Uganda. He made significant contributions to the discovery and research of the okapi in 1901.

Recommended Resources

For more information about the okapi, check out the following book:


The Okapi: Mysterious Animal Of Congo-Zaire

Authors:
Susan Lyndaker Lindsey
Mary Neel Green
Cynthia L. Bennett

The foreword was written by Jane Goodall (famous for her chimpanzee research in the Gombe National Park in Tanzania).

The book The Okapi: Mysterious Animal Of Congo-Zaire only has 131 pages, but provides a wealth of research information about the okapi:

• Their history of discovery by European explorers
• Comprehensive descriptions of their habitats and habits
• Life cycles
• Captivity
• Field studies
• Conservation efforts
• ...and much more.

An excellent book, both for research and general information about this intriguing, and little known species.

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