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Okapi

Okapia johnstoni

Okapi

Animal facts

Only officially discovered in 1901 (and given its scientific name at a meeting of ZSL), 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 hindquarters to identify her. The main threat to okapi is the commercial bushmeat trade.

Where they live

Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa

Habitat

Tropical forest

What they eat

Leaves, soft twigs, shoots, fruits and other plant parts

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