It also inhabits large clearings in forest and bush regions, especially where water is close by. The okapi stripes on the hind quarter of the female are used as a visual signal for its young to follow. Length, 6-7 feet. Weight, 450-500 pounds. Female sexual maturity is reached at 19 months.
Males are later.
Mating season is usually from May to June or November to December but can occur anytime. Females give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of 14 to 16 months. Most births occur during the peak of the rainy season. The female is very protective of her newborn, hiding it in the brush and returning at intervals to feed the calf. Because its range is so limited, its future remains insecure.