A mix between a horse and zebra yet living in the deepest forests of central Africa, the Okapi is an absolutely amazingly interesting animal as it has been creating controversy between scientists regarding its genetic make up for hundreds of years. The okapi is an aesthetically unique animal, as it is usually 60-70 inches tall and weighing anywhere from 440-550 lbs, the horse zebra hybrid is of normal stature. The interesting feature about these okapis is that the entire body excluding the legs is usually a dark brown color however; the legs of the animal are black and white stripped, resembling that of a zebra. According to scientists however, the okapi is best related to giraffes, as its genetic DNA makeup shows similarity between the species. First being seen in Egyptian murals and paintings, the rise and exposure of the okapi did not occur until the Europeans found it in the late 1880s. The central region of Africa is not necessarily full of okapis as the animal prefers to live by itself in an isolated fashion. Most scientists do not attribute this isolation to a food related issue, as they are omnivores, but no hard actual evidence has been displayed, as little is known about their social organization. The okapis have an amazingly useful and extremely elongated, 35 cm, tongue which is utilized in almost every aspect of their lives. In the wild, the okapis use the tongue to grab branches and clean themselves. Their tongue is so long that the okapis are generally capable of cleaning their entire face as well as inside their ears. The okapi reside in the central region of Africa because they favor the change of environment, as they may wish to venture to the swampy and marshy area during the day and continue along the rainy forests in the afternoon. The okapis have an especially dense coat that helps them adjust to the climate of central Africa, as it is capable of providing warmth and repelling rainfall.
These amazingly interesting creatures however, have faced tremendous difficulties since their time of discovery during the late 1880s. Although they are not deemed critically endangered or endangered at all, the okapis are facing a difficult time as the people of the area poach and destroy the habitats of the okapi. There are only ten to twenty thousand okapis estimated in the world, however, during the Congo Civil War, the wildlife and conservation of these animals has been going downwards. People within the area have hunted and trapped the okapi for various reasons. Their unique and beautiful hide has been used for rugs and carpets, and trappers have taken interest in the okapi to sell for extremely high prices to willing underground bidders looking to hold these animals as pets.
Visual image of the animal, as it cleans itself and is attempting to make sense of its surroundings.
Okapi feeding in a zoo located in London, as it showcases its omnivore tendencies.
