What is Okapi?
The okapi, Okapia johnstoni, is a forest mammal related to giraffes, with a dark body and pale leg stripes. It is native to central African forests.
Traits and way of life
1. Species and identifying features Okapia johnstoni belongs to the giraffe family but lacks a giraffe’s long neck. Leg stripes resemble zebra markings without indicating close kinship. 2. Habitat and diet It browses leaves and buds with a long tongue in humid forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, relying on forest cover.
Behavior and conservation
3. Behavior and reproduction Usually solitary, it may communicate through scent. Females bear one calf. Dense forest makes monitoring difficult. 4. Ecology and conservation It is part of forest food webs. Deforestation, conflict and hunting threaten it; conservation must consider forest communities alongside habitat.