Photostory: first pictures of the elusive okapi

This is the habitat of the okapi. It’s a hilly walk with heavy undergrowth and semi-clear canopy.

Okapi droppings are like round pebbles. They are one of the first signs that okapi are not far away.

Thierry (right), monitoring officer for ZSL’s conservation project in the park, with a ranger. He is showing him how to install the camera trap.

This is the first picture of an okapi. The camera was having some problems, which is a shame as it was looking straight at the camera.

Luckily 11 days later the team got this one, which shows an okapi hesitating to cross the camera.

But a minute later she is feeding on the bushes, showing off her striped backside to the camera.

She now turns around to give a look to confirm the camera is still there.

Finally a shot at 02:33 in the early hours of the morning, which is new evidence that okapi don’t just feed during the daytime as previously assumed.

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Conservation