Okapi

The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) also known as the forest giraffe, zebra giraffe, Congolese giraffe, African unicorn, and deerbra is an even-toed ungulate mammal from central Africa. With the giraffe they form the family Giraffidae.

 Appearance 
The okapi has a reddish brown body, a whitish gray face, and white and black stripes on its legs. The okapi has a few features that show its link to giraffes. Its height is not as large as giraffes.

 Life 
Okapis live in the rainforests of central Africa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

They are mostly active during the day. Okapis eat mostly leaves and buds from trees, but also grass, ferns, fruit, and fungi.

Okapis usually live alone. After 420 to 450 days of pregnancy the mother gives birth to one baby okapi, which drinks milk for up to 6 months. Okapis become mature when they are 4-5 years old. In captivity, okapis can live for 30 years or so.

 Other information 
The okapi was unknown and a mystery to western researchers for a long time. In the past, scientists thought that the okapi was a mix between the giraffe and the zebra.

The International Society for Cryptozoology uses the okapi as its symbol, because the okapi was unknown for a long time. 

 Other websites 
 Okapi fact sheet at BBC.com 

Category:Even-toed ungulates
Category:Mammals of Africa
Category:National symbols of the Democratic Republic of the Congo