1000+ images about Okapi, Forest Giraffe, Okapia johnstoni, giraffid artiodactyl mammal from Ituri Rainforest, Congo on Pinterest | Msnbc rachel maddow, The zo… Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas Okapi, Forest Giraffe, Okapia johnstoni, giraffid artiodactyl mammal from Ituri Rainforest, Congo The Okapi, Okapia johnstoni, is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal native to the Ituri Rainforest, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa. Although the okapi bears striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is most closely related to the giraffe. The animal was brought to prominent European attention by speculation on its existence found in popular press reports covering Henry Morton Stanley's journeys in 1887. Today, about 10,000–20,000 remain in the wild 23 Pins783 Followers 1000+ images about Okapi on Pinterest | Popular, London and Zoos Forward Okapi. The Okapi was well known to the Ancient Egyptians but Europeans thought them a myth.

In 1901 Johnston managed to get an entire skin, and a skull. He sent them to London and scientists were utterly surprised to learn of a relative to the giraffe. See More Okapi Okapi The Okapi (Okapia johnstoni; pronounced [oʊˈkɑːpɪ]) is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal native to the Ituri Rainforest, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo , in central Africa. Although the Okapi bears striped markings reminiscent of the zebra , it is most closely related to the giraffe . Unknown to Europeans until 1901, today there are approximately 10,000 - 20,000 in the wild and only 40 different worldwide institutions display them. Etymology The genus name Okapia derives from the Lese Karo name o'api, while the species' epithet (johnstoni) is in recognition of the explorer Sir Harry Johnston, who organized the expedition that first acquired an okapi specimen for science from the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The name "Okapi" is a portmanteau of two Lese words, oka a verb meaning to cut and kpi which is a noun referring to the design made on Efé arrows by wrapping the arrow with bark so as to leave stripes when scorched by fire. The stripes on the legs of the Okapi resemble these stripes on the arrow shafts. Lese legend says the okapi decorates itself with these stripes, adding to the okapi's great camouflage. Characteristics and behavior Okapis have reddish dark backs, with striking horizontal white stripes on the front and back legs , making them resemble zebras from a distance. These markings are thought to help young follow their mothers through the dense rain forest ; they also serve as camouflage in the wild. The body shape is similar to that of the giraffe, except that okapis have much shorter necks. Both species have very long (approx. 30 cm or 12 inch), flexible, blue tongues that they use to strip leaves and buds from trees. The tongue of the okapi is long enough for the animal to wash its eyelids and clean its ears (inside and out): it is the only mammal that can lick its own ears.

Fourteen to eighteen inches (36-46 cm) in length, the sticky tongue is pointed and bluish gray in color like the giraffe's. Male okapis have short, skin-covered horns called "ossicones". They have large ears, which help them detect their predator, the leopard . Okapis are 1.9 to 2.5 m (8.1 ft) long and stand 1.5 to 2.0 m (6.5 ft) high at the shoulder. They have a 30 to 42 cm (12 to 17 in) long tail. Their weight ranges from 200 to 300 kg (440 to 660 lb). Okapis are primarily diurnal, although recent photo captures have challenged this long held assumption. A photograph taken in the early hours of the morning around 02:33 shows an okapi feeding in the Watalinga forest in the north of the Virunga National Park in eastern DRC, thus providing evidence that they don't only feed during the daytime. Okapis are essentially solitary, coming together only to breed, with the exception of mother-offspring pairs.

Breeding behaviors include sniffing, circling and licking each other. Okapis forage along fixed, well-trodden paths through the forest. They have overlapping home ranges of several square kilometers and typically occur at densities of about 0.6 animals per square kilometer. The home ranges of males are generally slightly larger than those of females. They are not social animals and prefer to live in large, secluded areas. This has led to problems with the okapi population due to the shrinking size of the land they live on. This lack of territory is caused by development and other social reasons. However, okapis tolerate each other in the wild and may even feed in small groups for short periods of time. Okapis have several methods of communicating their territory, including scent glands on each foot that leave behind a tar-like substance which signals their passage, as well as urine marking. Males are protective of their territory, but allow females to pass through their domain to forage. Babies don't have imprint, so they get raised by several lactating females all at the same time.

Habitat Okapis prefer altitudes of 500 to 1,000 m, but may venture above 1,000 m in the eastern montane rainforests . Because there is a considerable amount of rain in these forests, okapis have an oily, velvety coat of fur that repels the water. They develop this coat early in childhood also as a technique of camouflage. The range of the okapi is limited by high montane forests to the east, swamp forests below 500 m to the west, savannas of the Sahel /Sudan to the north, and open woodlands to the south. Okapis are most common in the Wamba and Epulu areas. Diet Okapis are herbivores, eating tree leaves and buds, grass , ferns , fruit , and fungi . Many of the plant species fed upon by the okapi are poisonous to humans. Examination of okapi feces has revealed that the charcoal from trees burnt by lightning is consumed as well. Field observations indicate that the okapi's mineral and salt requirements are filled primarily by a sulfurous, slightly salty, reddish clay found near rivers and streams.

History The okapi was known to the ancient Egyptians; shortly after its discovery by Europeans, an ancient carved image of the animal was discovered in Egypt . For years, Europeans in Africa had heard of an animal that they came to call the 'African unicorn '. In his travelogue of exploring the Congo, Henry Morton Stanley mentioned a kind of donkey that the natives called the 'Atti', which scholars later identified as the okapi. Explorers may have seen the fleeting view of the striped backside as the animal fled through the bushes, leading to speculation that the okapi was some sort of rainforest zebra. When the British governor of Uganda , Sir Harry Johnston, discovered some pygmy inhabitants of the Congo being abducted by a German showman for exhibition in Europe, he rescued them and promised to return them to their homes. The grateful pygmies fed Johnston's curiosity about the animal mentioned in Stanley's book. Johnston was puzzled by the okapi tracks the natives showed him; while he had expected to be on the trail of some sort of forest-dwelling horse, the tracks were of some cloven-hoofed beast.

Though Johnston did not see an okapi himself, he did manage to obtain pieces of striped skin and eventually a skull. From this skull, the okapi was correctly classified as a relative of the giraffe; in 1901, the species was formally recognized as Okapia johnstoni. The first live specimen in Europe arrived in Antwerp in 1918. The first okapi to arrive in North America was at the Bronx Zoo, via Antwerp, in 1937. The first okapi born in captivity was at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, which directs the Okapi Species Survival Plan for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Okapi are now reasonably common in zoos around North America and Europe. Immediately following their discovery, zoos around the world attempted to obtain okapis from the wild. These initial attempts were accompanied by a high mortality rate due to the rigors of traveling thousands of miles by boat and by train. In more recent years, shipment by airplane has proven more successful.

Although the okapi was unknown to the Western world until the 20th century, it was possibly depicted 2,500 years ago on the facade of the Apadana , at Persepolis , as a gift from the Ethiopian procession to the Achaemenid kingdom. The Okapi was adopted as an emblem by the now defunct International Society of Cryptozoology. Status Although okapis are not classified as endangered, they are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching . The world population is estimated at 10,000–20,000. Conservation work in the Congo includes the continuing study of okapi behaviour and lifestyle, which led to the creation in 1992 of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Congo Civil War threatened both the wildlife and the conservation workers in the reserve. There is an important captive breeding centre at [ Epulu], at the heart of the reserve, which is managed jointly by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation ([ ICCN]) and Gillman International Conservation ([ GIC]), which in turn receives support from other organisations including UNESCO, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and [ WildlifeDirect] as well as from zoos around the world.

The Wildlife Conservation Society is also active in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. On June 8, 2006, scientists reported that evidence of surviving okapis in Congo's Virunga National Park had been discovered. This had been the first official okapi sighting in that park since 1959, after nearly half a century. In September 2008, the Wildlife Conservation Society reported that one of their camera traps snapped the first photo ever taken of an okapi in Virunga National Park. (Wikipedia) Jacksonville Zoo Ituri Rainforest located in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Habitat Altitudes of 1,600 – 3,281 ft (500 to 1,000 m), but may venture above 3,281 ft (1,000 m) in closed, high canopy forests, occurring in a wide range of primary and older secondary forest types.

Life Expectancy Wild: unknown; in captivity: up to 30 years Sexual Maturity 2 – 3 years Diet In the wild, they eat tree leaves and buds, grass, ferns, fruit, and fungi; in the Zoo, they are fed a scientifically developed, commercially available wild herbivore pelleted diet, a variety of fruits, vegetables and greens and native browse. Status IUCN – Endangered Behaviors Okapis are primarily diurnal, although recent photo captures have challenged this long held assumption. One photograph taken at 02:33 a.m. shows an okapi feeding in the Watalinga forest in the north of the Virunga National Park in eastern DRC, thus providing evidence that they do not only feed during the daytime. Okapis forage along fixed, well-trodden paths through the forest. They have overlapping home ranges of several square kilometers and typically occur at densities of about 1.5 animals per square mile (0.6 animals per 1 sq km). They are not social animals and prefer to live in large, secluded areas. This has led to problems with the okapi population due to the shrinking size of the land they live on.

This lack of territory is caused by human land development and other social reasons. However, okapis tolerate each other in the wild and may even feed in small groups for short periods of time. Okapis have several methods of communicating their territory, including scent glands on each foot that produce a tar-like substance, as well as urine marking. Males are protective of their territory, but allow females to pass through their domain to forage. Examination of okapi feces has revealed that the charcoal from trees burnt by lightning is consumed as well. Field observations indicate that the okapi’s mineral and salt requirements are filled primarily by sulfurous, slightly salty, reddish clay found near rivers and streams. Okapis are essentially solitary, coming together only to breed, with the exception of mothers and offspring. Okapi courtship and mating rituals are known only from observations done in zoos. Partners begin courtship by circling, sniffing, and licking each other. Eventually, the male asserts his dominance by extending his neck, tossing his head, and thrusting one leg forward. This display is followed by mounting and copulation. After mating, the pair separates.

Gestation lasts about 440 days, and females retreat into dense forest vegetation to give birth to a single calf. A newborn weighs 30 – 66 lbs. (14 - 30 kg) at birth. It is precocial and may nurse after 21 minutes and stand after just 30 minutes. A calf spends the first day or two of life following the mother around and exploring the environment. After this, it finds a suitable hiding spot and makes a nest. For the next two months, it spends 80% of its time in the nest. Hiding behavior appears to promote rapid growth and provides protection from predators. A disturbed calf lies motionless in its nest, and a female okapi will rush to aggressively defend her calf from danger. During the hiding stage, young nurse relatively infrequently and do not defecate. These strategies help keep them undetected by predators. Okapi mothers use infrasonic communication to communicate with their calves. This is sound that is below the range of human hearing – also used by elephants. Weaning occurs at about 6 months, although young may continue to suckle for more than a year.

Young males begin developing horns at one year of age, and both males and females reach adult size at about three years. Okapis seem to exhibit several aggressive behaviors including kicking and head throwing. In captivity, dominant animals hold their necks straight and heads higher than subordinates, and the placing of the neck and head on the ground is a clear sign of submission. In addition, social grooming and play behavior seem to be common for both juveniles and adults. Adaptions Because there is a considerable amount of rain in their forest habitat, okapis have an oily, velvety coat of fur that repels the water. They develop this coat as juveniles and it also helps with camouflage. The long black tongue is used for plucking buds, leaves, and branches from trees and shrubs as well as for grooming. Special Interests The okapi was known to the ancient Egyptians. Shortly after its discovery by Europeans, an ancient carved image of the animal was discovered in Egypt.

Although the okapi was unknown to the Western world until the 20th century, it was possibly depicted 2,500 years ago on the facade of the Apadana, at Persepolis, as a gift from the Ethiopian procession to the Achaemenid kingdom. For years, Europeans in Africa had heard of an animal that they came to call the ‘African unicorn’. In his travelogue of exploring the Congo, Henry Morton Stanley mentioned a kind of donkey that the natives called the ‘Atti’, which scholars later identified as the okapi. Explorers may have seen the fleeting view of the striped backside as the animal fled through the bushes, leading to speculation that the okapi was some sort of rainforest zebra. When the British governor of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston, discovered some pygmy inhabitants of the Congo being abducted by a German showman for exhibition in Europe, he rescued them and promised to return them to their homes. The grateful pygmies fed Johnston’s curiosity about the animal mentioned in Stanley’s book.

Johnston was puzzled by the okapi tracks the natives showed him; while he had expected to be on the trail of some sort of forest-dwelling horse, the tracks were of some cloven-hoofed beast. Though Johnston did not see an okapi himself, he did manage to obtain pieces of striped skin and eventually a skull. From this skull, the okapi was correctly classified as a relative of the giraffe; in 1901, the species was formally recognized as Okapia johnstoni. The genus name Okapia derives from the Lese Karo name “o’api”, while the species name johnstoni is in recognition of the explorer Sir Harry Johnston, who organized the expedition that first acquired an okapi specimen for science from the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The name “okapi” is a portmanteau of two Lese words, oka a verb meaning “to cut” and kpi which is a noun referring to the design made on Efé arrows by wrapping the arrow with bark so as to leave stripes when scorched by fire. The stripes on the legs of the okapi resemble these stripes on the arrow shafts.

Lese legend says the okapi decorates itself with these stripes, adding to the okapi’s great camouflage. Many of the plant species eaten by the okapi are poisonous to humans. The okapi is a totally protected species under Congolese law and the species is a national symbol, appearing on the insignia of the Congolese National Parks Institute, ICCN. The classification of the okapi as a giraffe species has been challenged recently (Kurt Benirschke, 2006, in Zool. Garten NF 76, 197-198) and have been put forward suggesting that the okapi is a close relative of the nilghai antelope of India, which has the same number of chromosomes, the same chemical composition of the bile, and a similar placenta structure. Folklore Conservation As of 2011, there are 154 okapi specimens in zoos on four continents, with the majority of them being located in North American and European zoos, as well as two specimens in South Africa and seven specimens in Japan. Immediately following their discovery, zoos around the world attempted to obtain okapis from the wild.

These initial attempts were accompanied by a high mortality rate due to the rigors and stress of traveling thousands of miles by boat and by train. In more recent years, shipment by airplane has proven more successful. The first live specimen in Europe arrived in Antwerp in 1918. The first okapi to arrive in North America was at the Bronx Zoo, via Antwerp, in 1937. The first okapi born in captivity was at Zoo Basel, Switzerland in 1957. In North America, the first okapi was born at the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois in 1959. Brookfield Zoo records 27 okapi births, followed by Zoo Basel’s 21 births. The Brookfield Zoo directs the Okapi Species Survival Plan for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for the okapi is led by the Antwerp Zoo. Although okapis are not classified as endangered, they are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching. The world population is estimated at 10,000–20,000.

Conservation work in the Congo includes the continuing study of okapi behavior and lifestyle, which led to the creation in 1992 of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Congo Civil War threatened both the wildlife and the conservation workers in the reserve. There is an important captive breeding centre at Epulu, at the heart of the reserve, which is managed jointly by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and Gillman International Conservation, which in turn receives support from other organizations including UNESCO, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and Wildlife Direct as well as from zoos around the world. The Wildlife Conservation Society is also active in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. On June 8, 2006, scientists reported that evidence of surviving okapis in Congo’s Virunga National Park had been discovered. This had been the first official okapi sighting in that park since 1959, after nearly half a century. In September 2008, the Wildlife Conservation Society reported that one of their camera traps snapped the first photo ever taken of an okapi in Virunga National Park.

Given that the okapi can coexist with small-scale, low-level human occupation of the forest, but disappear in areas of active settlement or disturbance, the major threat to this species is habitat loss due to logging and human settlement. Approximately one-third of the okapi’s known area of occupancy is likely to be at risk by major incursions during the first quarter of this century. Areas at high risk include the south-eastern Ituri Forest, the Kisangani area, Rubi-Tele, and the western limits of the species’ range in the Ebola R basin. Hunting (meat and skins) is also a threat to the species, and they decline rapidly in areas where there is persistent use of cable snares. The Mbuti hunter-gatherers in the Ituri Forest hold okapi in high esteem. While this has not prevented them from killing okapi, it has elevated this to a special event that requires post-hunt purification. The total population is estimated in the order of 10,000-35,000 animals, and numbers are stable in the large protected areas.

However, the okapi’s future is closely tied to attempts to develop and implement effective conservation and management of Okapi Faunal Reserve and Maiko National Park in DR Congo, as human populations, bushmeat hunting and economic development pressures expand in these regions. In the absence of these conservation measures, the species would probably quickly meet the thresholds for decline. Jacksonville Zoo History This very rare and protected species first entered the Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s animal collection in 2010. Exhibit Okapi Okapi An okapi at Disney's Animal Kingdom Conservation status ( P.L. Sclater, 1901) Range map The Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a mammal living in the Ituri Rainforest in the north east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. Although it bears striped markings reminiscent of the zebra , it is most closely related to the giraffe . Etymology The genus name Okapia derives from the Lese Karo name o'api, while the species' epithet (johnstoni) is in recognition of the explorer Sir Harry Johnston, who organized the expedition that first acquired an okapi specimen for science from the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .

The name "Okapi" is a compilation of two Lese words. Oka a verb meaning to cut and Kpi which is a noun referring to the design made on Efe arrows by wrapping the arrow with bark so as to leave stripes when scorched by fire. The stripes on the legs of the Okapi resemble these stripes on the arrow shafts. Lese legend says the okapi decorates itself with these stripes. Characteristics and behaviour Okapis have dark backs, with striking horizontal white stripes on the front and back legs, making them resemble zebras from a distance. These markings are thought to help young follow their mothers through the dense rain forest ; they also serve as camouflage. The body shape is similar to that of the giraffe, except that okapis have much shorter necks. Both species have very long (approx. 30 cm or 12 inch), flexible, blue tongues that they use to strip leaves and buds from trees. An okapi cleaning its muzzle with its tongue. The tongue of an okapi is long enough for the animal to wash its eyelids and clean its ears: it is one of the few mammals that can lick its own ears. Male okapis have short, skin-covered horns called " ossicones".

They have large ears, which help them detect their predator, the leopard. Okapis are 1.9 to 2.5 m (8.1 ft) long and stand 1.5 to 2.0 m (6.5 ft) high at the shoulder. They have a 30 to 42 cm (12 to 17 in) long tail. Their weight ranges from 200 to 270 kg (465 to 565 lb). Okapis are largely diurnal and essentially solitary, coming together only to breed. Okapis forage along fixed, well-trodden paths through the forest. They live alone or in mother-offspring pairs. They have overlapping home ranges of several square kilometers and typically occur at densities of about 0.6 animals per square kilometer. The home ranges of males are generally slightly larger than those of females. They are not social animals and prefer to live in large, secluded areas. This has led to problems with the okapi population due to the shrinking size of the land they live on. This lack of territory is caused by development and other social reasons.

However, okapis tolerate each other in the wild and may even feed in small groups for short periods of time. Okapis have several methods of communicating their territory, including scent glands on each foot that leave behind a tar-like substance which signals their passage, as well as urine marking. Males are protective of their territory, but allow females to pass through their domain to forage. Okapis prefer altitudes of 500 to 1,000 m, but may venture above 1,000 m in the eastern montane rainforests . The range of the okapi is limited by high montane forests to the east, swamp forests below 500 m to the west, savannas of the Sahel/ Sudan to the north, and open woodlands to the south. Okapis are most common in the Wamba and Epulu areas. Diet Okapis are herbivores, eating tree leaves and buds, grass, ferns , fruit , and fungi . Many of the plant species fed upon by the okapi are poisonous to humans. Examination of okapi feces has revealed that the charcoal from trees burnt by lightning is consumed as well.

Field observations indicate that the okapi's mineral and salt requirements are filled primarily by a sulfurous , slightly salty, reddish clay found near rivers and streams. History The okapi was known to the ancient Egyptians ; shortly after its discovery by Europeans, an ancient carved image of the animal was discovered in Egypt . For years, Europeans in Africa had heard of an animal that they came to call 'the African unicorn'. An okapi at Bristol Zoo cleans itself In his travelogue of exploring the Congo, Henry Morton Stanley mentioned a kind of donkey that the natives called the 'atti', which scholars later identified as the okapi. Explorers may have seen the fleeting view of the striped backside as the animal fled through the bushes, leading to speculation that the okapi was some sort of rainforest zebra. When the British governor of Uganda , Sir Harry Johnston, discovered some pygmy inhabitants of the Congo being abducted by a German showman for exhibition in Europe, he rescued them and promised to return them to their homes. The grateful pygmies fed Johnston's curiosity about the animal mentioned in Stanley's book.

Johnston was puzzled by the okapi tracks the natives showed him; while he had expected to be on the trail of some sort of forest-dwelling horse, the tracks were of some cloven-hoofed beast. Though Johnston did not see an okapi himself, he did manage to obtain pieces of striped skin and eventually a skull. From this skull, the okapi was correctly classified as a relative of the giraffe ; in 1902, the species was formally recognized as Okapia johnstoni. The first live specimen in Europe arrived in Antwerp in 1918. The first okapi to arrive in North America was at the Bronx Zoo, via Antwerp, in 1937. The first okapi born in captivity was at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, which directs the Okapi Species Survival Plan for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Okapi at Chester Zoo Okapi are now reasonably common in zoos around North America and Europe . Immediately following their discovery, zoos around the world attempted to obtain okapis from the wild. These initial attempts were accompanied by a high mortality rate due to the rigors of traveling thousands of miles by boat and by train.

In more recent years, shipment by airplane has proven more successful. This history has given the okapi a place in the popular imagination as an example of an obscure creature that would be presumed mythical if no specimens had been captured. In this connection it is also used by cryptozoologists to support the view that other mythical animals might also be based on real creatures unknown to science, to the extent that it has been adopted as an emblem by the International Society for Cryptozoology. Although the okapi was unknown to the Western world until the 20th century, it has been clearly depicted for almost 2,500 years on the facade of the Apadana, at Persepolis, where it is shown as a gift from the Ethiopian procession to the Achaemenid kingdom. Status Although okapis are not classified as endangered, they are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching. The world population is estimated at 10,000–20,000. Conservation work in the Congo includes the continuing study of okapi behaviour and lifestyle, which led to the creation in 1992 of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Congo Civil War threatened both the wildlife and the conservation workers in the reserve.

An Okapi reaches for some leaves. There is an important captive breeding centre at Epulu, at the heart of the reserve, which is managed jointly by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation ( ICCN) and Gillman International Conservation ( GIC), which in turn receives support from other organisations including UNESCO, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and WildlifeDirect as well as from zoos around the world. The Wildlife Conservation Society is also active in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. On June 8, 2006, scientists reported that evidence of surviving okapis in Congo's Virunga National Park had been discovered. This had been the first official sighting since 1959, after nearly half a century. Retrieved from " " This Wikipedia DVD Selection was sponsored by a UK Children's Charity , SOS Children UK , and is a hand-chosen selection of article versions from the English Wikipedia edited only by deletion (see for details of authors and sources). The articles are available under the Photo Stock Plus -- View Image Post/View Comments Description Okapi The Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a mammal living in the Ituri Rainforest in the north east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa.

Although it bears striped markings reminiscent of the zebra, it is most closely related to the giraffe. Until 1901 it was known only to the local people Etymology The genus name Okapia derives from the Lese Karo name o'api, while the species' epithet (johnstoni) is in recognition of the explorer Sir Harry Johnston, who organized the expedition that first acquired an okapi specimen for science from the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The name "Okapi" is a compilation of two Lese words. Oka a verb meaning to cut and Kpi which is a noun referring to the design made on Efe arrows by wrapping the arrow with bark so as to leave stripes when scorched by fire. The stripes on the legs of the Okapi resemble these stripes on the arrow shafts. Lese legend says the okapi decorates itself with these stripes. Characteristics and behavior Okapis have dark backs, with striking horizontal white stripes on the front and back legs, making them resemble zebras from a distance. These markings are thought to help young follow their mothers through the dense rain forest; they also serve as camouflage.

The body shape is similar to that of the giraffe, except that okapis have much shorter necks. Both species have very long (approx. 30 cm or 12 inch), flexible, blue tongues that they use to strip leaves and buds from trees. The tongue of an okapi is long enough for the animal to wash its eyelids and clean its ears: it is one of the few mammals that can lick its own ears. Male okapis have short, skin-covered horns called "ossicones". They have large ears, which help them detect their predator, the leopard. Okapis are 1.9 to 2.5 m (8.1 ft) long and stand 1.5 to 2.0 m (6.5 ft) high at the shoulder. They have a 30 to 42 cm (12 to 17 in) long tail. Their weight ranges from 200 to 250 kg (465 to 550 lb). Okapis are largely diurnal and essentially solitary, coming together only to breed. Okapis forage along fixed, well-trodden paths through the forest. They live alone or in mother-offspring pairs.

They have overlapping home ranges of several square kilometers and typically occur at densities of about 0.6 animals per square kilometer. The home ranges of males are generally slightly larger than those of females. They are not social animals and prefer to live in large, secluded areas. This has led to problems with the okapi population due to the shrinking size of the land they live on. This lack of territory is caused by development and other social reasons. However, okapis tolerate each other in the wild and may even feed in small groups for short periods of time.[attribution needed] Okapis have several methods of communicating their territory, including scent glands on each foot that leave behind a tar-like substance which signals their passage, as well as urine marking. Males are protective of their territory, but allow females to pass through their domain to forage. Okapis prefer altitudes of 500 to 1,000 m, but may venture above 1,000 m in the eastern montane rainforests.

The range of the okapi is limited by high montane forests to the east, swamp forests below 500 m to the west, savannas of the Sahel/Sudan to the north, and open woodlands to the south. Okapis are most common in the Wamba and Epulu areas. Diet Okapis eat tree leaves and buds, grass, ferns, fruit, and fungi. Many of the plant species fed upon by the okapi are poisonous to humans. Examination of okapi feces has revealed that the charcoal from trees burnt by lightning is consumed as well. Field observations indicate that the okapi's mineral and salt requirements are filled primarily by a sulfurous, slightly salty, reddish clay found near rivers and streams. History The okapi was known to the ancient Egyptians; shortly after its discovery by Europeans, an ancient carved image of the animal was discovered in Egypt.[1] For years, Europeans in Africa had heard of an animal that they came to call 'the African unicorn'. An okapi at Bristol Zoo cleans itselfIn his travelogue of exploring the Congo, Henry Morton Stanley mentioned a kind of donkey that the natives called the 'atti', which scholars later identified as the okapi.

Explorers may have seen the fleeting view of the striped backside as the animal fled through the bushes, leading to speculation that the okapi was some sort of rainforest zebra. When the British governor of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston, discovered some pygmy inhabitants of the Congo being abducted by a German showman for exhibition in Europe, he rescued them and promised to return them to their homes. The grateful pygmies fed Johnston's curiosity about the animal mentioned in Stanley's book. Johnston was puzzled by the okapi tracks the natives showed him; while he had expected to be on the trail of some sort of forest-dwelling horse, the tracks were of some cloven-hoofed beast. Though Johnston did not see an okapi himself, he did manage to obtain pieces of striped skin and eventually a skull. From this skull, the okapi was correctly classified as a relative of the giraffe; in 1902, the species was formally recognized as Okapia johnstoni. The first live specimen in Europe arrived in Antwerp in 1918. The first okapi to arrive in North America was at the Bronx Zoo, via Antwerp, in 1937.

The first okapi born in captivity was at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, which directs the Okapi Species Survival Plan for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Okapi are now reasonably common in zoos around North America and Europe. Immediately following their discovery, zoos around the world attempted to obtain okapis from the wild. These initial attempts were accompanied by a high mortality rate due to the rigors of traveling thousands of miles by boat and by train. In more recent years, shipment by airplane has proven more successful. This history has given the okapi a place in the popular imagination as an example of an obscure creature that would be presumed mythical if no specimens had been captured. In this connection it is also used by cryptozoologists to support the view that other mythical animals might also be based on real creatures unknown to science, to the extent that it has been adopted as an emblem by the International Society for Cryptozoology.

Ironically, although the okapi was unknown to the Western world until the 20th century, it has been clearly depicted for almost 2,500 years on the facade of the Apadana, at Persepolis, where it is shown as a gift from the Ethiopian procession to the Achaemenid kingdom. Status Although okapis are not classified as endangered, they are threatened by habitat destruction and poaching. The world population is estimated at 10,000ï¿½20,000. Conservation work in the Congo includes the continuing study of okapi behaviour and life styles, which led to the creation in 1992 of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Congo Civil War threatened both the wildlife and the conservation workers in the reserve. There is an important captive breeding centre at Epulu, at the heart of the reserve, which is managed jointly by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and Gillman International Conservation (GIC), who in turn receive support from other organisations including UNESCO, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and WildlifeDirect as well as from zoos around the world. The Wildlife Conservation Society is also active in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

On June 8, 2006, scientists reported that evidence of surviving okapis in Congo's Virunga National Park had been discovered. This had been the first official sighting since 1959, after nearly half a century. To purchase a photo simply click on the image to view purchasing options Release information MTHSEcology - Okapi MTHSEcology Export (PDF) Basic Information: The Okapi is the Giraffe's unusual cousin, a cousin who lives in the Ituri Rainforest in Central Africa. It is a mammal that appears to have the striped marks similar to that of a Zebra, but is in fact not related to the Zebra but the Giraffe. The Okapi is a survivor of the primitive short necked giraffe's that lived more than 5 million years ago during the Miocene and Pilocene epochs and can be called the living fossil; a virtually unchanged living descendent of extinct animals according to the the article The Elusive Okapi: The Giraffe's Unusual Cousin.The Okapi was discovered by a British explorer, Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston, in 1901.

The appearance of an Okapi is unique; thay have dark bodies with strips on the lower body similar to that of a Zebra. Species name: Okapi johnstoni Okapi at Cincinnati Zoo, photo taken by Phil Myers on 3/19/05 Okapi mother from the cite sandiegozoo.org Scientific Classification: Species Okapi johnstoni Habitat: As said before, Okapi's live in the Ituri Rainforest in Central Africa; specifically they are only found in the North East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They were found in these forests by a British explorer, and they were the last and only large mammal to remain hidden from the world until the 20th century. Usually they are found near a water source, and are solitary beings, only rarely will they be seen in small family groups or with other to mate. Okapis are most common in the Wamba and Epulu areas, but they can venture out into latitudes between 500 and 1,000 m. The Ituri Rainforest is a protected part of Ituri, home to 5,000 of the world's 30,000 remaining Okapis.

Plants in the forest include specific plants called epiphytes; these are plants that grow on other plants in order to get all of the moisture and light from the surrounding air or rain. There are also other epiphytes that climb upward; one example being lianas, who start from the ground and lean on a tree for support. In these types of forest the tropical climate is ideal, but forest plants are crowded together and survival is difficult. Also mentioned by Tom Jackson in his book Tropical Forests, the dramatic scenery and tumbling waterfalls make this hilly [Ituri Rainforest] corner of the Congo very beautiful. In these forests Okapi eat tree leaves and buds, grass, ferns, fruit, and fungi. Many of the plants they eat are considered posionous to humans. Even trees that are burnt are eaten, as determined by the charcoal found in their feceas. What is also indicated is that the Okapi's get their mineral and salt requirements mainly by a sulphurous, slightly salty, reddish clay found near rivers and streams. Physiology: In weight the males range from 200-300 kg while the females weigh from 25-50 kg.

The females are 4.2 cm ( 1.7 in) while the males are on average 5ft. The length for both sexes is on average 8 ft. They have even-toed ruminants related to giraffes that are adapted for dense forest living. They have large boney capsules enclosing the middle ear bones that enhance hearing. The Okapi Muzzle is narrow, with lips that are mobile and muscular; there are suited for selective feeding on certain plants. Their tongues are long, even longer than a girafee's, and can be extended 25 cm beyond its snout to groom the whole body. Their eyesight is poor and their Cervical vertebrae is not as long as that of a Girafee's. What is strange is that they have odd chromosome numbers;there numbers may be 45 or even 44. They do have sexual dimorphism; being that the males are larger than the females and that the males also have 6 inch horns on their skulls. Okapi's are herbivores; they only eat grass and leaves. They are ruminant; they have four parts in their stomachs.

The process goes like this: first, the food is swallowed and travels down the compartment called the Rumen; then it is digested through to the Reticulum. The food isn't quite digested enough in these two compartments so the Okapi simply regurgitates it back up and chewes it some more. It is sent back down to the third compartment; called the omasum and the fourth is called the abomasum. This is where the food is fully digested. This is the skull of an Okapi; the teeth are rough, not smooth so that it can more easily chew their food such as the buds and leaves of the Ituri Rainforest trees. Species Interactions: This is not necessarily related to species interaction, but it is said that Okapi's are diurnal, meaning they move during both daylight and night hours. The Okapi remains a solitary creature; only 10% of its time is spent with other organsims; but there is social gromming in captives. There has never been groups of more than three ever recorded except in captivity. Calves remain with their mother for 2-6 months after birth.

Males and females spend little time with each other; generally speaking they spend little time with any animals. Speaking territorial, and in captivity, males mark things like bushes and trees with urine; which occurs most often during courtship. They also rub their necks against tree trunks to mark their territory. The three most recognizable sounds that okapi's make are the “chuff,” “moan,” and “bleat.” Chuffs are used when okapi meet each other. Infant okapi bleat when they lose contact with their mother or are in danger. Males use a soft moan during courtship. But when it comes to mating, males commence in a ritual like fighting with head butting, charging, and neck fighting. Dominant Okapi's have an erect head and neck posture while subordinates usually have their neck and head lowered to the ground. On a lighter note, all ages participate in "play behavior." Gambols and capers along with "the pooky" which is when their heads are low and forward, and their tail wags rapidly, are all forms of play. But Okapi's may be solitary, but they are not predators; they are prey.

Leopards represent an adult Okapi's main cause of death. For a young Okapi, several cat and golden cats are there predators. Not only animals, but also humans; the African rainforest natives use the Okapi skins for belts. Reproduction: The Okapi female gives birth to a single calf that can weigh up to 30 kilograms; their weight doubles within the first month due to their mothers milk. Newborns can stand within thirty mintues after being born. Their first two months are usually spent alone; the mother only comes to feed the calf and then they are hidden away in vegetation. The reason is so that they won't attract predators to the infant okapi's. When the calf is big enough the mother and infant are together most of the time due to the lessened threat of predation. Male Okapi's are ready to produce between 2 to 4 years; females being 1 1/2 to 2 years. While in zoos they live as long as thrity years; in the wild it is unknown. Okapi mother and calf Free Topic: Interesting and strange facts Surprisingly, the Okapi was known to the ancient Egyptians before the Europeans.

This was proven when an ancient carved image of an animal, which presumably looked like and Okapi, was discovered in Egypt. Europeans in Africa recall that for years the Okapi was called the, "African Unicorn." Initially after their European discovery many tried to capture them and force them into zoos; which caused a high fatality rate due to the lengthy travels. Also strange is that the okapi is the only animal capable of cleaning its ears with its tongue. The name "Okapi" is a combination of the Lese language words "Oka" meaning "to cut" and "kpi" meaning to decorate stripes on arrows. Therefore the mysterious "African Unicorn," is said to decorate itself with stripes.

Works Cited: Okapi (Okapia Johnstoni) - Animals - A-Z Animals Five groups that classify all living things Animalia A group of animals within the animal kingdom Chordata A group of animals within a pylum Mammalia A group of animals within a class Artiodactyla A group of animals within an order Giraffidae A group of animals within a family Okapia Comprised of the genus followed by the species Okapia johnstoni Most widely used name for the species Okapi The domestic group such as cat or dog Mammal The specific area where the animal lives Dense mountain rainforest The colour of the animal's coat or markings Red, Brown, Black, White The protective layer of the animal Fur How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is 1.5m - 2m (4.9ft - 6.5ft) The measurement of how heavy the animal is 200kg - 300kg (440lbs - 660lbs) The fastest recorded speed of the animal 60kph (37mph What kind of foods the animal eats Herbivore The food that the animal gains energy from Leaves, Shoots, Fruit Other animals

 that hunt and eat the animal Leopard, Serval, Human Whether the animal is solitary or sociable Diurnal How long the animal lives for 20 - 30 years The average number of babies born at once 1 The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct Near Threatened Horizontal white stripes on rear and legs Fun Fact: Eats more than 100 different types of plant!

Okapi Location Okapi Okapi Classification and Evolution The Okapi is an elusive herbivore that is found in a small pocket of tropical mountain forest in central Africa . Despite it's Deer-like appearance the Okapi is actually one of the last remaining ancestors of the Giraffe , which is the tallest animal on Earth. Along with having a relatively long neck compared to it's body size , the most striking feature of the Okapi is the horizontal stripes that are particularly visible on their behinds and give this animal an almost Zebra-like appearance. The Okapi is very shy and secretive, so much so in fact that they were not recognised as a distinct species by western science until the earth 20th century. Although they are seldom seen by people, the Okapi is not an endangered species as they are thought to be fairly common in their remote habitats. Okapi Anatomy and Appearance Like it's distant and much larger ancestor, the Okapi has a long neck which not only helps it to reach leaves that are higher up, but also provides the Okapi with a tool to both defend itself and it's territory .

The Okapi has a red-brown coloured coat of fur with horizontal, white striped markings that are found on their hind quarters and at the tops of their legs, and provide the Okapi with excellent camouflage in the dense jungle. They have white ankles with a dark spot above each hoof and very thick skin to help protect them from injury. The Okapi has a long head and dark muzzle with large set-back ears which enable the Okapi to detect approaching predators easily. The Okapi also has an impressively long tongue, which is not only black in colour but it is also prehensile meaning that it is able to grab hold of leaves from the branches above. Okapi Distribution and Habitat The Okapi is found in the dense tropical rainforests of north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo generally at an altitude that can vary between 500 and 1,000 meters, although the majority of individuals are thought to inhabit areas at roughly 800 meters above sea level. They are incredibly shy and elusive animals and rely heavily on the very thick foliage around them to protect them from being spotted by predators .

The Okapi can also be found in areas where there is a slow-moving fresh water source, but the range of the Okapi is very much limited by natural barriers, with unsuitable habitats on all four sides trapping these animals into the 63,000 square kilometre Ituri Rainforest . Around a fifth of the rainforest is today made up of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, which is a World Heritage Site. Although they are thought to be common in their native region, the Okapi has been severely threatened by habitat loss particularly from deforestation. Okapi Behaviour and Lifestyle The Okapi is a diurnal animal meaning that they are most active during the day when they spend the majority of their time roaming set paths through the forest in search of food. They are solitary animals with the exception of the time mothers spend with their calves but are known to tolerate other individuals and may occasionally feed together in small groups for a short period of time. Okapi have overlapping home ranges with males tending to occupy a larger territory than females, which is marked with both urine and by rubbing their necks on trees. Males also use their necks to fight with one other to both settle disputes over territory and to compete to mate with a female during the breeding season.

Okapis are known to also communicate with one another using quiet "chuff" sounds and rely heavily on their hearing in the surrounding forest where they are not able to see very far at all. Okapi Reproduction and Life Cycles After a gestation period that can last for up to 16 months, the female Okapi retreats into the dense vegetation where she gives birth to a single calf. Like many hoofed-herbivores, the Okapi calf is usually able to stand within half an hour when mother and baby then begin starting to look for a good nest spot. They remain in their nest deep in the undergrowth for the majority of the next two months which not only helps the calf to develop more rapidly but also gives it vital protection from hungry predators . Although the female Okapi will protect and feed her vulnerable calf, the two are not thought to share the same close bond that occurs with numerous other hoofed mammals . Although they do begin to develop their white stripes at a fairly young age, the young Okapi do not reach their full adult size until they are roughly three years old. They are generally weaned at around 6 months old but may continue to suckle from their mother for more than a year.

Okapi Diet and Prey The Okapi is a herbivorous animal meaning that it survives on a diet that is only comprised of plant matter. They eat leaves, shoots and twigs that are drawn into their mouths using their long prehensile tongue along with fruits, berries and other plant parts. The Okapi will even eat fungi on occasion and is known to eat more than 100 different types of plant, many of which are poisonous to other animals and Humans . Along with consuming a vast variety of plant material, the Okapi is also known to eat a reddish clay that provides essential salt and minerals to it's plant-based diet . The Okapi spends a great deal of the daylight hours in search of food and walks quietly along well-trodden paths that it uses regularly to ensure an easier escape from predators . Okapi Predators and Threats Due to the fact that the Okapi inhabits such a secluded region of mountain rainforest , it actually has surprisingly few common predators particularly in comparison to similar species . The main predator of the Okapi is the Leopard , which is one of the world's largest and most powerful felines and an animal that spends a lot of time resting in the trees.

Unlike other predators which the Okapi's acute hearing would sense moving through the undergrowth, the Leopard's position above ground means that they are able to both survey the surrounding area for potential prey and are also able to ambush it from above. Other predators of the Okapi include the Serval and Human hunters in the area, but the biggest threat to the world's Okapi population is habitat loss due to deforestation. Okapi Interesting Facts and Features One of the most distinctive features of both the Okapi and the Giraffe is their long prehensile tongue which can not only be used to grab onto leaves and branches but it also assists the animal when grooming. The tongue of the Okapi is in fact so long, that they are one of the few animals in the world that are said to be able to lick their own ear! Although they are quite rare and very secretive animals , there were sightings of the Okapi in these forests but these generally involved seeing the animal from behind and so the Okapi was known by many as a Forest Zebra .

The Okapi was not classified as a distinct species until 1900 - 1901, when Harry Johnston sent two pieces of Zebra-like skin to London which was analysed and meant that a new species had been recorded. Okapi Relationship with Humans Until the beginning of the last century, the Okapi itself was not known to western scientists but the native people of the region were known to hunt this rare and elusive animal for both it's meat and it's thick hide. Today this secretive animal is still seldom seen in the high mountain rainforests of central Africa both due to it's shy nature and it's excellent camouflage amongst the dense foliage, so much of what we know about the Okapi is from observations of individuals found in zoos and animal institutions around the world. This however was not really successful until the introduction of planes as the trauma endured by the animal on trains on boats often meant that there was a high mortality rate of the individuals that were captured. Okapi Conservation Status and Life Today Although they are thought to be fairly common throughout their naturally isolated range, the Okapi has been listed by the IUCN as an animal that is Near Threatened from extinction in it's natural environment .

This is due to the increase of deforestation in parts of their natural habitat along with the fact that they are becoming increasingly caught on snares and other traps that are set by locals to catch other animals . The Okapi has been protected by law in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formally Zaire) since 1933, and the IUCN last estimated that there were between 10,000 and 35,000 individuals left in the wild. Share This Article Learn how you can use or cite the Okapi article in your website content, school work and other projects. First Published: 13th May 2009 [View Sources] Sources: 1. About the Okapi (Date Unknown) Available at: [Accessed at: 13 May 2009] 2. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 13 May 2009] 3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011] 4. David W.

Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2010] 5. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 13 May 2009] 6. Okapi Conservation (Date Unknown) Available at: [Accessed at: 13 May 2009] 7. Okapi Information (Date Unknown) Available at: [Accessed at: 13 May 2009] 8. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 13 May 2009] 9. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 13 May 2009] Are you Safe? Are You Safe? is an online safety campaign by A-Z-Animals.com. If something has upset you, the Are You Safe? campaign can help you to speak to someone who can help you.

Question: The Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the only place in the world where which mammal, that was first seen by Europeans in 1901, can be found in the wild?
Answer: OKAPI