Okapi
Okapis are native to the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. About a fifth of the rainforest is made up of the Okapi WIldlife Reserve. As of 2011, about 10,000-20,000 remain in the wild.
Okapis have dark, reddish-brown back and horizontal stripes on their front and back legs, making them look like zebras from a distance. Even though the okapi has zebra stripes, it is more closely related to the giraffe. The body shape is similar to that of the giraffe, except okapis have much shorter necks. Like the giraffe, the okapi has long legs and a large body. Both species have very long, flexible tongues used to strip leaves and buds from trees. The okapi's tongue is also long enough for the animal to wash its eyelids and clean its ears, both inside and out. This sticky tongue is pointed and bluish-grey, like that of the giraffe. Male okapis have short, skin-covered horns. They have large ears that help them detect their predator, the leopard. Because of a considerable amount of rain in the forest, okapis have oily, velvety fur coats that repel the water.
Okapis have dark, reddish-brown back and horizontal stripes on their front and back legs, making them look like zebras from a distance. Even though the okapi has zebra stripes, it is more closely related to the giraffe. The body shape is similar to that of the giraffe, except okapis have much shorter necks. Like the giraffe, the okapi has long legs and a large body. Both species have very long, flexible tongues used to strip leaves and buds from trees. The okapi's tongue is also long enough for the animal to wash its eyelids and clean its ears, both inside and out. This sticky tongue is pointed and bluish-grey, like that of the giraffe. Male okapis have short, skin-covered horns. They have large ears that help them detect their predator, the leopard. Because of a considerable amount of rain in the forest, okapis have oily, velvety fur coats that repel the water.
Diet/History
Okapis are herbivores. They eat grass, fruits, fungi, ferns, tree leaves, and buds. Many of the okapis eat are poisonous to humans.