The okapi (or Okapia johnstoni) is a secretive species native to the dense forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have a distinctive appearance with a grey-white face, dark brown coat across their torso, as well as bright white stripes across their legs and hindquarters. The sexes differ slightly as the males also have small horns, whereas females have whorls of hair in the equivalent area. Both average 1.4 to 1.6m tall and 2.4 to 2.6m long.
Latin Name
Okapia johnstoni
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okapi
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Animal Facts
The okapi and the giraffe are the only members of the giraffe family.
Newborn okapis do not defecate for the first month of their life to prevent predators from locating them.
Okapis have a 30cm long prehensile tongue.
Okapis can retract their eyeballs into their skull to protect their eyes when travelling through thick undergrowth.
The okapi had the nickname 'African unicorn' before it was officially discovered. People would tell stories of seeing a 'donkey-like' creature with small horns in the forest, but its existence wasn't confirmed until 1901.