The Okapi is one of the rarest animals in the world, found only in the tropical rainforests of Eastern Chad, Africa.
Also known as the zebra giraffe or African unicorn due to its unique appearance, the Okapi has a hybrid shape resembling a donkey, giraffe, and zebra, featuring striped hind legs and a long neck.
The Okapi is also known as the zebra giraffe or African unicorn.
The Okapi belongs to the hoofed animal family, characterized by a high shoulder, low hindquarters, and long legs similar to those of a giraffe. They stand about 1.5 to 1.6 meters tall from hoof to ear tip, reaching over 2 meters in height. Their body length is approximately 2 meters, with a tail length of 45 cm, and they weigh over 200 kg, with males being smaller than females.
On their foreheads, they have a pair of short horns covered with skin and hair. Females lack horns. Their fur is a dark brownish-purple color, lighter on the sides, with a grayish head and white stripes on their shoulders and upper legs.
Okapis are solitary creatures that feed on leaves, similar to giraffes. Their primary diet consists of grass, ferns, and tender leaves. In the wild, Okapis can live for 15 to 20 years, depending on environmental conditions. Female Okapis typically carry their young for about 427 to 457 days before giving birth.
In the first weeks of life, newborn Okapis are hidden by their mothers in bushes and are weaned after six months.
Currently, it is very difficult to find Okapis in the wild due to their shy nature and fear of humans.
Okapis are solitary creatures that feed on leaves, like giraffes.
The Okapi is found only in the tropical forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Because of its unique and beautiful appearance, it is not only revered but also has become a national symbol. The image of the Okapi is also printed on the currency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This astonishingly beautiful endemic species of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been hunted to the brink of extinction, making it extremely rare and at risk of extinction.
The decline in the Okapi population is due not only to overhunting but also to habitat loss caused by deforestation. Conflicts and poverty in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past two decades have devastated the Okapi’s habitat, not to mention that they are also hunted for their meat and skin. Therefore, the government must strive to address civil conflicts and combat poverty to ensure the survival of the Okapi species.
This species has been hunted to the brink of extinction, becoming extremely rare and at risk of extinction.
In addition to the Okapi, there are up to 200 bird species that are also in an extremely critical condition, including the white-tailed flufftail (Sarothrura ayresi) living in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, which is at high risk of extinction. According to scientists from the IUCN, habitat destruction and degradation for animal species include excessive water extraction, agricultural conversion, and overgrazing. Therefore, effective measures need to be taken to mitigate these impacts.
For the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), only part of its habitat has improved while other areas remain threatened. This turtle species has seven distinct biological populations and geographical locations. In the northwest Atlantic, the leatherback population is thriving due to conservation initiatives. Conversely, in the eastern and western Pacific, as well as coastal regions in Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, the leatherback turtle population is declining due to egg harvesting and large-scale fishing.
The island fox (Urocyon littoralis) is somewhat recovering, but it remains on the endangered species list.
