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Okapi
Okapia johnstoni
Animal facts
Only officially discovered in 1901, this elusive forest-dweller has a short, dense, velvety coat and a long, black, prehensile tongue like its closest relative, the giraffe. The young use their mother’s unique pattern of stripes on her hind quarters to identify her. The main threat to okapi is the commercial bushmeat trade.
Where they live
Central Africa
Habitat
Tropical forest
What they eat
Leaves, soft twigs, shoots, fruits and other plant parts
Conservation work
Bushmeat and Forest conservation programme