The okapi (/ oʊˈkɑːpiː /; Okapia johnstoni), also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe and zebra giraffe, is an artiodactyl mammal that is endemic to the northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa.

Known as the “forest giraffe,” the okapi looks more like a cross between a deer and a zebra. Nevertheless, it’s the giraffe's only living relative. The okapi is native to the Ituri Rainforest in...

Feb 24, 2025 · okapi, (Okapia johnstoni), cud-chewing hoofed mammal that is placed along with the giraffe in the family Giraffidae (order Artiodactyla). It serves as the flagship species (a popular species that has become a symbol for the conservation of a region) for the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It's related to giraffes?! The okapi (pronounced oh-KAHP-ee) is beautiful and unusual. With its white-and-black striped hindquarters and front legs, it looks like it must be related to zebras! But take a look at an okapi’s head, and you’ll notice a resemblance to giraffes. The okapi is indeed the only living relative of the giraffe.

Okapi live in the dense rainforests, characterized by high precipitation and a closed canopy. Their striped coat allows them to blend in with the light shafts produced as the sun pierces through the canopy, and their oily, velvety fur helps to repel water.

Unlike giraffe, okapi are solitary animals living in dense rainforest areas. Due to their size and their versatile tongue, both giraffe and okapi are able to reach vegetation higher up than most other hoofed animals. The okapi’s long prehensile tongue is used to …

Oct 18, 2018 · Covered in unusual markings on their rump and legs, okapi are elusive, shy and gentle, and nearly impossible to observe in the wild due to their secretive nature. Okapi have incredibly acute senses of hearing and smell that help them avoid predators, such as leopards, and make them hard to find in the wild © Okapi Conservation Project.

Wild okapi live exclusively in the Ituri Rainforest in northwest Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. The Maryland Zoo has one male okapi on exhibit in the African Journey near …

First described by western scientists in 1902, the okapi is a forest giraffe species that lives in the rainforests found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Feeding on a large variety of plants, the okapi are specialized leaf …

It is a chocolate-brown colour, with white horizontal stripes on the legs and hindquarters and white “stockings” on the ankles. Its cheeks, throat and chest are whitish-grey or tan. The only place where one can find an okapi is in the forests of northeastern …