This creature looks like it stepped out of a fairy tale.
Rare Animal Species in the World
Located in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), near the borders of Uganda and South Sudan, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve spans approximately 14,000 km² of rainforest. Established by the government in 1996 and recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this reserve is famous for its rich biodiversity, including species that are endemic to the area. It provides protection for over 100 species of mammals and 370 bird species, including 17 primate species, more than any other forest in Africa. Additionally, the reserve is home to the Efe and Mbuti peoples, the indigenous communities of the area.
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is home to approximately 470 species of birds and mammals. However, the most notable resident of the reserve is the enigmatic Okapi. The Okapi (Okapia johnstoni), also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe, and zebra giraffe, is one of the rarest animals in the world, with many scientists considering it more precious than gold.
When first seeing an okapi, many might assume that this unusual animal is related to zebras. In fact, this assumption is quite valid, as both species share a similar height (about 1.5 meters) and have striking black-and-white striped patterns on their bodies. However, the closest relative of the okapi is actually the giraffe.
The skulls of the okapi and giraffe are nearly identical.
Documents indicate that both of these animals belong to the Giraffoidea family, characterized by long necks, hooves, and short, skin-covered horns.
The skull of the okapi is slightly smaller than that of the giraffe. Both possess a long, flexible, green tongue, ideal for stripping leaves from trees and shrubs.
One of the confusing details about the okapi’s resemblance to zebras is its prominent black-and-white stripes, similar to an adult zebra. To this day, this feature serves as an effective camouflage among the dense vegetation, with their face, throat, and chest being grayish-white. The thick, oily coat helps the okapi withstand humid conditions. Additionally, the scent glands in their hooves are used by okapis to mark their territory.
Unlike giraffes that prefer vast grasslands, okapis primarily inhabit lowland tropical rainforests in central and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are solitary animals but sometimes gather in small groups to feed, groom, and even play together.
Female okapis have a gestation period of 15 months. Newborn okapis can hold their bowel movements for up to four weeks to avoid detection by leopards. The mother stays in the nest with her young for the first 6 to 9 weeks—much longer than most hoofed animals. During the initial weeks, newborn okapis are hidden by their mothers in the bushes and are weaned after six months.
Okapis have a unique communication system that humans cannot hear. They use special sound waves that are undetectable to the human ear. To understand this language, specialized equipment is required.
Okapis primarily inhabit lowland tropical rainforests.
An adult okapi can weigh up to 300 kg and consume about 27 kg of food daily, including fruits, tender shoots, mushrooms, leaves, branches, riverbank clay, and even bat droppings for salt, minerals, and essential nutrients.
Scientists have also observed something quite interesting: okapis eat charred wood from lightning strikes to aid in their digestion.
Upon close observation of the head shape and facial features, we can see that okapis share many similarities with giraffes. Like giraffes, male okapis have horns. Meanwhile, female okapis are slightly redder and taller than males. Okapis have long tongues to strip leaves and branches, which are then digested in their four-chambered stomachs.
It is very difficult to find okapis in the wild because these rare creatures are shy and fearful of humans.
Zoo staff report that one of the okapis residing there exhibits a bold behavior called “third eyelid,” rolling its eyes back and forth.
Okapis look like a strange hybrid between a deer and a zebra. They can retract their eyes deeply into their sockets, protecting them from branches and vegetation while moving through the rainforest.
An Okapi, also known as the zebra-legged giraffe.
A group of experts has described the third eyelid as the nictitating membrane, which, when blinking, reveals the protruding eyes of the okapi. The third eyelid can extend horizontally across the eyeball. “This membrane helps protect the eyes and keeps them clean and moist,” the expert stated.
With a 25 cm long tongue, the okapi can clean any part of its body, including its eyes.
Gareth Chamberlain, an okapi keeper at the London Zoo in England, stated: “There is no creature on this planet as special as the okapi. There is not much information about this species; the okapi was discovered in 1901. They inhabit dense tropical forests, making it very difficult to find and track them. There is still much to learn about this unique creature.”
Main Reasons for the Decline in Okapi Population
As an iconic species of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, okapis have been revered by the Congolese people for centuries, especially by the Mbuti pygmy community, who named the animal. Today, okapis are considered the national treasure of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and their image appears on national currency as well as the logo of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN).
It wasn’t until 1901 that their existence was confirmed by Western science. However, just over a century later, the population of okapis has halved. It is estimated that there are currently fewer than 25,000 okapis remaining in the wild.
In 2013, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) placed the okapi on its Red List of threatened species. The IUCN emphasized the serious decline of the okapi giraffe, partly due to their limited habitat in the tropical forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Fewer than 25,000 okapis remain in the wild.
Additionally, the decline in okapi numbers is also due to overhunting, habitat loss, deforestation for logging, and human settlement activities. Conflicts and poverty in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past two decades have harmed the okapi’s habitat, and they are hunted for their meat and skin. Therefore, the government’s efforts to address civil conflict and combat poverty are essential for conserving the okapi’s existence.
The exploitation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s rich mineral resources also poses a significant challenge to okapi conservation efforts. The lack of accurate data on the number of okapis in the wild is one of the challenges faced by scientists. Since the 1960s, no comprehensive survey of the okapi has been conducted in the northern forests of Virunga National Park—where the okapi was rediscovered in 2006.
With the efforts of rangers and sustainable development goals, Virunga National Park is expected to become a safe haven, helping to protect the okapi from hunting and habitat loss. Collecting data on okapis will be a top priority in the coming years. This data will serve as a basis for developing conservation strategies for okapis both inside and outside Virunga National Park.
