Okapi - Endangered Species

Animal Profile

Animal Name: Okapi
Scientific Name: Okapia johnstoni

Physical Description:
A striking, horse-sized mammal with a velvety chocolate-brown coat, zebra-striped legs, and a long, prehensile tongue that can clean its own eyes. Stands about 1.5 meters at the shoulder and weighs 200–350 kg. Males have small skin-covered ossicones, while females lack horns. Moves silently through dense forest, blending into dappled light.

Habitat:
Endemic to the dense canopy forests of the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Prefers altitudes between 500–1,500 meters, especially within the Ituri Forest and Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

Existence Status / Date:
Endangered (IUCN Red List, 2020); first confirmed by Western science in 1901, earning the nickname “Africa’s last large mammal discovery”

Source of Information:

• Wikipedia – Okapi A
• Britannica – Okapi Overview B
• Fact Animal – Okapi Facts C

Content Summary:
Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a forest-dwelling giraffid from the Congo, known for its zebra-like stripes and giraffe-like lineage. Endangered due to habitat loss and hunting, it remains one of Earth’s most elusive large mammals.

Tags: Forest Giraffe, Endangered, Congo
Hashtags: #OkapiMystery #RainforestGhost #ZebraGiraffe