The okapi is a shy forest giraffe found only in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is rarely seen in the wild and has declined because of hunting, mining and armed conflict in its range.
Interesting facts
- Okapis were unknown to Western science until 1901.
- Striped hindquarters may help young follow their mothers through the forest.
- Like giraffes, okapis have a long, dark tongue for stripping leaves.
- Males have short horns covered in skin, called ossicones.
- The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The okapi is a national symbol of the DR Congo.
Behaviour
Okapis are solitary and move quietly along regular paths through the forest. They communicate with infrasound calls too low for people to hear.
Breeding and young
A single calf is born after about 14 to 15 months and spends much of its first weeks hidden in a nest of vegetation.
Threats and conservation
Hunting, habitat loss from logging and mining, and insecurity caused by armed groups.
Where to see it
- Okapi Wildlife Reserve, DR Congo (very difficult to visit); seen more easily in zoo breeding programmes
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
