Chester Zoo 

Okapi

The Okapi resembles a horse and for many years was classified as such, but it in fact belongs to the same family as the giraffe. It, too, has a long neck, though not as long as that of the giraffe. Females are taller than males and both sexes have back legs and upper front legs similarly striped to zebras. Their lower limbs are white with brown line markings and a brown circle around the knee area, giving the appearance of wearing ‘socks’. Okapis have a distinctive scent and short, slightly oily body hair, the torso, neck and forehead being brown in colour, with the throat area, face and chest slightly lighter. They have large ears and the males have horns which face backwards.

What they eat

Leaves, grasses, fruits and fungi. Also charcoal from burned forest trees, which is thought to offset the effects of some poisonous plant substances which they are known to eat, as charcoal can be an effective antidote to certain toxins.

How long they live

Up to 33 years.

Biology

Okapis reach sexual maturity at about two years old, though males don’t reach their full adult stature until aged three. Their horns begin to grow at about 12 months. Females are the main carers of the young, which remain in the protective shelter of ‘nests’ made from vegetation for the first few months after birth. During this time they do little but feed and sleep. They are weaned after six months though remain close to their mothers and may still occasionally seek their mother’s milk for some week after this.

Did you know?

Female Okapis communicate with their calves using infrasonic sounds, undetectable to the human ear.