Okapi Research Paper

Okapi Meet an animal who was not discovered until the early 20th century! Unlike many others, the okapi, native to it’s “hidden” habit of the Ituri Rainforest in central Africa, used its unique physical appearance and shy, elusive personality to outsmart researchers for centuries (“Okapi”-A-Z Animals). A relative of the well-known giraffe, the okapi proves to be one of the most unique, interesting, and confusing animals in the world. Many of us have seen a horse, a donkey, or a zebra at the zoo. On the first sight of an okapi, one would think it is a cross-breed of the three! The okapi however, is a relative of another common animal we can see at the zoo; the giraffe (Hart, John A; Terese B. Hart)! The okapi now joins the zoo family,

The stripes on their hind quarters are most likely the first thing to catch your eye. Like giraffes, okapis have long necks that help them to reach leaves higher up in the trees, as well as providing them with a defense mechanism for both themselves, and their territory (“Okapi”-A-Z Animals). The okapi’s neck, shoulders, barrel, and back, range from sepia and pitch black to a rich wine-colored red. Their cheeks and jaws are a soft yellow-white color, their neck is dark black, and their forehead is a deep red chestnut. Their large ears are fringed with jet black fur. Females generally weigh more and are taller than the males of the species. Males have skin-covered horns, and both have bilobate canine teeth. On sighting of the majestic okapi, Herbert Lang wrote, “The glossy brown and purplish black of the body is set off by the conspicuous white stripes and bands on the limbs-1918 ” (Hart, John A; Terese B.

In general, the okapi are found among the tropical rainforests of the North-Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Okapis thrive in altitudes between 500 and 1,000 meters. (800 meters above sea level) As okapis are shy and elusive, they rely heavily on the foliage of the forest to hide from predators. Okapis live in areas with a slow-moving water source for their own hydration, but sometimes this is limited because of natural rainforest boundaries. Specifically, the okapi live in the 63,000 square kilometer Ituri rainforest of Central Africa- ⅕ of which is the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (a world heritage site) (“Okapi”- A-Z