The Okapi was not "discovered" by the scientific community until 1901. It lives only in the northeastern rainforests of Zaire in Central Africa. The Okapi lives in the rainforest and prefers tree fall areas for browsing, where there is new growth in the underbrush. The Okapi wraps its long tongue around branches and vines, pulls the leaves and buds into its mouth, or it simply nips the leaves.
The Okapi is well-camouflaged. Because the Okapi is very shy little is known about its life in the wild. It is solitary most of the year and pairs only for mating. The female gives birth to a single calf after approximately fourteen months of gestation. Its natural enemies are leopards, dozens of different parasitic worms and, of course, man.
A complete count of the Okapi in, their dense forest home, has not been performed. It has been estimated that, there may be as many as 10,000-25,000 Okapi in the wild, depending on variations in the forest habitat.
The most serious threat to the Okapi is increased human settlement in its range. The Okapi has always been rare. Its restricted habitat makes it vulnerable to rapid extinction.
Efforts are underway to make the Okapi a
symbol of rainforest conservation in Zaire.