Unless you give it a closer look, you may think the Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a zebra or a deer. It inhibits the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some communities call it Zebra giraffe, forest giraffe, or Congolese giraffe. The neck is relatively long, the ears large and flexible, the coat is chocolate or reddish brown, and the legs with horizontal white strips and rings. The skin is covered in thick oily fur, while the hooves have sweat glands. This is used for marking territory. Males have horns, while females have knobby bumps on the head. Apart from twigs and leaves, it also feeds on fruits and buds.
Okapis have a standing height between 5.25’-6.7’ (1.6-2.05 m), body length from 6.2’-8.2’ (1.9-2.5 m), shoulder height of 4.4’-5.7’ (1.35-1.75 m), and body width of 17.7”-23.6” (.45-.6 m). The weight of an Okapi is between 397-772 lb (180-350 kg). Okapis have a typical lifespan of 15-34 years.
Unless you give it a closer look, you may think the Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a zebra or a deer. It inhibits the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some communities call it Zebra giraffe, forest giraffe, or Congolese giraffe. The neck is relatively long, the ears large and flexible, the coat is chocolate or reddish brown, and the legs with horizontal white strips and rings. The skin is covered in thick oily fur, while the hooves have sweat glands. This is used for marking territory. Males have horns, while females have knobby bumps on the head. Apart from twigs and leaves, it also feeds on fruits and buds.
Okapis have a standing height between 5.25’-6.7’ (1.6-2.05 m), body length from 6.2’-8.2’ (1.9-2.5 m), shoulder height of 4.4’-5.7’ (1.35-1.75 m), and body width of 17.7”-23.6” (.45-.6 m). The weight of an Okapi is between 397-772 lb (180-350 kg). Okapis have a typical lifespan of 15-34 years.
