Okapi: The Animal So Secretive It Became a Myth

Common Name(s):

Okapi, Forest Giraffe, African Unicorn, Congo Giraffe

Scientific Name:

Okapia johnstoni

Type:

Mammal – Even-toed ungulate (Artiodactyla) – Herbivore

Origin and Distribution:

100 % endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It occurs naturally nowhere else on Earth.

Habitat:

Dense, humid lowland rainforests of the Congo Basin, especially the Ituri Forest and surrounding protected areas (Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Maiko National Park, Virunga National Park). Prefers altitudes 500–1,500 m in areas with thick undergrowth and year-round rainfall.

Physical Description:

The okapi is the only living relative of the giraffe, but looks like a cross between a zebra, giraffe, and antelope. Adults stand 1.5–1.7 m at the shoulder and weigh 200–350 kg. The body is chocolate to reddish-brown with striking horizontal white stripes on the legs and hindquarters (perfect camouflage in dappled forest light). Males have short, skin-covered ossicones (horn-like structures) on the forehead. The most famous feature is the extremely long, prehensile blue-black tongue (up to 45 cm) used to strip leaves and even clean its own eyes and ears.

History and Cultural Significance:

Discovered by Western science only in 1901 by Sir Harry Johnston (hence the species name). Local Mbuti and Efé pygmy peoples had known it for centuries, calling it “o’api”. Because it was so elusive, Europeans thought it was a myth until skins and skulls were brought back. Today it is the national symbol of the DRC and appears on Congolese banknotes.

Behavior and Lifestyle:

• Solitary except for mothers with calves
• Diurnal and crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk)
• Extremely shy and silent – rarely vocalizes
• Browses on more than 100 plant species, including some that are toxic to other animals
• Marks territory with scent glands on the feet and oily secretion from glands near the eyes
• Gestation lasts 14–16 months; calves hide motionless for weeks after birth

Conservation Status and Threats:

Endangered (IUCN Red List). Population estimated at 10,000–20,000 and declining. Main threats:

• Poaching for bushmeat and skin
• Habitat destruction from logging and mining
• Armed conflict in eastern DRC disrupting protection efforts
  The Okapi Wildlife Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) protects about 20 % of the remaining population.

Fun Facts

• Its tongue is so long it can clean its own ears from the inside.
• Okapis were the inspiration for the mythical unicorn in some early European accounts.
• They have scent glands on their feet that leave a tar-like substance – trackers call it “okapi perfume”.
• Despite being a giraffe relative, they do not reach high branches; instead they pull branches down with their tongue.
• Calves are born with a small mane that disappears as they grow.

Best Places to See It in the Wild:

Very difficult to spot in the wild, but best chances are inside the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Epulu station) or in Virunga National Park with experienced trackers. Most people see them in zoos (the species breeds well in captivity).