Okapi facts for kids
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The okapi ( Okapia johnstoni), also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe and zebra giraffe, is a unique mammal that lives deep in the rainforests of central Africa. It looks a bit like a mix between a giraffe and a zebra, but it's actually the closest living relative to the giraffe. It has a long neck like a giraffe but is much smaller, and it has cool white and black stripes on its legs that make it look like it's wearing striped socks.
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Discovery
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For many years, people in Europe and other parts of the world had heard whispers and stories about a strange animal living in the African rainforest that looked like a donkey but was different. The famous explorer Henry Morton Stanley mentioned hearing about an animal called the "atti" during his travels in the Congo in the late 1800s.
It wasn't until the early 1900s that the Okapi was officially recognized by science. Sir Harry Johnston, a British explorer and administrator, heard about the animal from local people. He was shown tracks that looked like they belonged to a cloven-hoofed animal, not a horse as some had thought. Although he didn't see a live Okapi himself at first, he managed to get pieces of its striped skin and later, a skull.
From studying the skull, scientists realized that this mysterious animal was actually related to the giraffe! In 1901, the Okapi was formally given its scientific name, Okapia johnstoni, in honor of Sir Harry Johnston. The name "Okapia" comes from the local names for the animal, like "okapi" or "o'api".
Family tree
Even though Okapis have stripes like zebras, they are not related to horses or zebras at all. Their closest living relative is the giraffe! The Okapi and the giraffe are the only two living members of a special animal family called Giraffidae.
Scientists have studied fossils and genetics to understand how the Okapi and giraffe evolved. They believe that the ancestors of giraffes and okapis lived millions of years ago. The Okapi is sometimes called a "living fossil" because it looks quite similar to some of these ancient relatives from a long time ago, around 18 million years ago! Genetic studies in 2016 suggested that the common ancestor of giraffes and okapis lived about 11.5 million years ago.
What do they look like?
The Okapi is a medium-sized animal. It stands about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) tall at the shoulder, which is much shorter than a giraffe! Its body is typically around 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) long, and it can weigh anywhere from 200 to 350 kilograms (about 440 to 770 pounds).
One of the most striking things about the Okapi is its coat. Most of its body is a deep chocolate or reddish-brown color. But its legs are covered in bold, horizontal white and black stripes, especially on the upper legs, with white ankles. These stripes are like camouflage, helping them blend in with the dappled sunlight and shadows of the rainforest. Their face, throat, and chest are usually a grayish-white.
Okapis have a long neck, though not as long as a giraffe's, and large, flexible ears that help them hear very well in the dense forest. They also have a long, dark tongue, which can be up to 46 centimeters (about 18 inches) long! They use this amazing tongue to grab leaves from trees and even to clean their own ears and eyes.
Male Okapis have short, bony bumps on their heads covered in skin and hair, called ossicones. These are similar to the ossicones on a giraffe's head but are much smaller, less than 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. Female Okapis usually don't have these ossicones; instead, they might have swirls of hair where the ossicones would be. This difference between males and females is called sexual dimorphism.
Okapis also have special glands on their feet that leave behind a scent, which helps them mark their territory. They have good night vision and a strong sense of smell, which are helpful for living in the forest.
Where do they live?
Okapis are found only in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. They live in the dense canopy forests, usually at altitudes between 500 and 1,500 meters (about 1,600 to 4,900 feet) above sea level. They prefer areas with lots of trees and plants that form a thick roof over the forest floor. They don't usually live in open areas or places where there are lots of people. Some important places where Okapis live include the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and Maiko National Park.
Behavior
Okapis are mostly active during the day, but they might also move around for a few hours when it's dark. They are generally solitary animals, which means they prefer to live alone rather than in groups. They only really come together when it's time to breed.
Each Okapi has a home range, which is the area where it lives and searches for food. Males tend to have larger home ranges than females. They use scent marks, like urine, to let other Okapis know they are in the area. They also rub their necks against trees, leaving a mark.
Okapis are usually quiet animals. They don't have very developed vocal cords, so their communication is mostly limited to a few sounds. They make a sound called a "chuff" to stay in contact with each other. Females might make a "moan" sound during courtship, and babies might "bleat" if they are stressed.
Predators
Their main natural predator in the wild is the leopard.
Diet
Okapis are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. They have a very varied diet, feeding on the leaves and buds of trees, branches, grasses, ferns, fruits, and even fungi. They are special in the Ituri Forest because they are one of the only large mammals that feeds mostly on the plants growing in the understory (the layer of vegetation below the main tree canopy). They use their long tongues to carefully select the plants they want to eat. Scientists have found that Okapis eat from over 100 different types of plants!
Reproduction
Female Okapis are ready to have babies when they are about one and a half years old, and males are ready when they are about two years old. Okapis can breed at any time of the year.
When a male and female Okapi meet to breed, they might circle each other and use their sense of smell and touch. The male shows his interest by stretching his neck and lifting one leg.
After breeding, the mother Okapi is pregnant for a long time, about 440 to 450 days, which is over a year! Usually, only one baby Okapi, called a calf, is born at a time. A newborn calf weighs between 14 and 30 kilograms (about 31 to 66 pounds).
Baby Okapis are born looking similar to adults but have some extra features like long hairs around their eyes and a mane down their back, which disappear as they grow. The mother hides her calf in a safe spot in the forest, and the calf stays hidden for the first few months. This helps protect the baby from predators.
The mother nurses the calf with her milk, which is very rich in nutrients. The calf starts eating solid food like leaves when it's about three months old and is usually weaned (stops drinking milk) around six months old. Male calves start growing their ossicones about a year after they are born. Okapis can live for 20 to 30 years.
Conservation
Sadly, the Okapi is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This means there are concerns about their numbers in the wild, and they need our help to survive.
The main reasons Okapis are endangered are things like habitat loss. The forests where they live are sometimes cut down for logging or to make space for people to live or farm.
Fortunately, there are people and organizations working hard to protect Okapis. The Okapi is protected by law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are protected areas like the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and national parks that help provide safe places for Okapis to live.
The Okapi Conservation Project, started in 1987, is one group dedicated to protecting Okapis and their forest home. Zoos around the world also play an important role. Many zoos have Okapis and participate in special breeding programs called Species Survival Plans (SSP) in North America and European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP) in Europe. These programs help ensure that the Okapis in zoos are healthy and have genetic diversity, acting like a safety net for the species. Zoos also help educate people about Okapis and raise money to support conservation efforts in the wild. As of 2025, many zoos continue to participate in these vital programs.
Intersting facts about the okapi
- Although the okapi was unknown to the Western world until the 20th century, it may have been depicted since the early fifth century BCE on the façade of the Apadana at Persepolis, a gift from the Ethiopian procession to the Achaemenid kingdom.
- Baby Okapis don't usually poop for the first month or two, which scientists think helps keep their hiding spot from being discovered by predators.
- The okapi's typical lifespan is 20–30 years.
- The IUCN classifies the okapi as endangered.
- In 1937, the Bronx Zoo became the first in North America to acquire an okapi.
- In 2016, a genetic study found that the common ancestor of giraffe and okapi lived about 11.5 million years ago.
See also
In Spanish: Okapi para niños
