Buzz
Head over to your local zoo and spend some time by the okapi exhibit. While you're there, you'll overhear visitors marveling at the strange creature. “Wow,” some will whisper, “it’s like a zebra and giraffe combined!” Others will entertain another theory, speculating if, long ago, a zebra and a donkey had a deep connection... and well, you can guess the rest.
But the okapi isn’t simply some bizarre zebra-donkey hybrid. Although it shares a distant relation with the giraffe, the tale of this elusive creature is far more intricate. In fact, the world remained unaware of the okapi’s existence until the early 20th century. (Well, to be precise, no white person knew—but that's a different conversation.) Even today, the okapi remains so reclusive that much about it is still a mystery.
However, we’ll reveal all that science has uncovered about the giraffe’s mysterious cousin! Keep reading to discover more about the most enigmatic animal in the jungle.
10. The Stuff of Myths
Long ago, African folklore spoke of a strange and mythical creature hidden deep within the dense Ituri Forest. The local people, despite living in the area for centuries, weren’t entirely convinced of its existence. According to the legend, this beast had the body of a horse, the stripes of a tiger, and the legs of a zebra.
Because sightings of the creature were so rare, it became the subject of much debate. Some claimed it was a figment of imagination, while others believed it possessed mystical powers and resided in different realms. Meanwhile, some central African tribesmen dismissed the whole tale as nothing more than a fabrication invented by shamans and those with wild imaginations.
In truth, the okapi does exist. However, it inhabits such a remote, thick jungle that spotting one in the wild is nearly impossible. Furthermore, its quiet and solitary nature makes encounters extremely rare—even for those locals who have lived in the region for millennia. As a result, most people dismissed the creature as a myth. Over time, the story of the elusive okapi only grew stronger as occasional sightings continued to provide scant proof of its existence.
9. Finally Discovered…
It wasn’t until the very end of the 19th century that a Western individual became aware of the okapi’s existence. This was Henry Morton Stanley, who encountered the creature’s name during an arduous expedition across the Congo Basin. Local tribesmen referred to it as the ‘atti’ or ‘okapi.’ The latter name, of course, stuck with Stanley—and eventually, the rest of the world. Even then, however, no one had real proof of the animal’s appearance, location, or origin.
Stanley began his work, though it didn't quite go as expected. During his journey across the Congo Basin, he never encountered an okapi in the wild. Not exactly shocking, considering few had seen one. However, Stanley contributed something vital: he documented every description he could find from the local people about the mysterious creature. Back in Europe, there was still doubt about the okapi’s existence, but Stanley’s records became a crucial starting point.
Then, in 1901, the breakthrough came: Sir Harry Johnston, another explorer, discovered the skin and skull of a dead okapi. This find was sent back to Europe, where it caused a sensation. Scientists were astounded that such a large animal could have existed for so long without anyone knowing. In their amazement, they named the species Okapia johnstoni, in honor of Johnston’s pioneering exploration.
8. The Moment of Validation!
It’s almost unbelievable that a creature as large as the okapi went undiscovered until the 20th century. But even more astounding is that it wasn’t until the 21st century that a wild okapi was captured on camera. In 2008—just over a year after the first iPhone’s release—a wild okapi was successfully photographed in the Ituri Forest. While okapis in reserves had been photographed before, no one had managed to catch one outside of a controlled environment.
That same year, a determined group of scientists from the Zoological Society of London embarked on an ambitious mission to capture footage of a wild okapi. They set up numerous camera traps in areas believed to be frequented by wild okapis, then waited. They waited, and waited, and waited. Days turned into weeks, and weeks stretched into months. Eventually, their persistence paid off, and after months of waiting, they succeeded.
If you’ve had any doubts up until now about whether the okapi truly deserves its reputation as the world’s most elusive and enigmatic mammal, let those doubts fade away. To capture a single photograph of a wild okapi in the 21st century, the world’s leading experts had to rely on cutting-edge technology and a fleet of specialized cameras. And we can almost predict your next thought: You’d be better off never agreeing to play hide-and-seek with this cryptic creature.
7. Believe It or Not, It’s Actually a Relative of the Giraffe
Maybe we should have begun with this fact—but isn’t the buildup more exciting? Despite its zebra-like appearance, the okapi is no relation to the striped equid. In fact, the okapi belongs to the giraffe’s family. The okapi and the giraffe are both classified in the same biological family, Giraffidae, by experts.
Additionally, both the okapi and the giraffe share certain features: long necks, spots and stripes that sparkle in the sunlight, and small horns called “ossicones” on their heads. These are essentially bumps found under their fur. While the giraffe’s ossicones are more prominent, both animals share this trait, linking them genetically.
On top of all this, DNA evidence confirms the connection beyond any doubt. Scientists have found, through blood analysis, that the giraffe and okapi share a common ancestor. This discovery was monumental for biologists, as it enabled them to make key assumptions—and later validate them—about the elusive okapi, even though this mysterious animal is so hard to spot in the wild.
The okapi’s digestive system mirrors that of the giraffe; their eyes, skin, and muscles operate in similar ways, and their bones and joints function in a broadly similar manner. While not an exact match, the giraffe is the closest living relative to this elusive jungle dweller.
6. Goodbye for Good!
One reason scientists knew so little about the okapi until the 20th century is due to their distinctive stripe patterns, which enable them to camouflage in plain sight. These stripes on their back legs serve as an effective disguise. On one hand, they help baby okapis follow their mothers through the dense jungle. More importantly, though, the stripes confuse predators, aiding the okapi in blending seamlessly into the forest.
Imagine the jungle from the forest floor. Most sunlight is trapped high in the canopy, but some rays break through, reaching the ground. The okapi’s white leg stripes are designed to mimic these rays of light. These stripes, evolved long ago, help the solitary okapi disappear into the forest. Within moments, it’s as if the gentle creature was never there at all.
When it comes to avoiding predators, the white stripes disrupt the okapi’s body shape, making it hard for jaguars and other hunters to detect and track it. The okapi becomes an optical illusion, a fleeting image that vanishes in the jungle. Eventually, the predator gives up the chase, its dinner plans thwarted. Smart strategy!
5. The Struggle for Survival
The okapi’s skin naturally secretes a substance called sebum. This oily, waxy material serves a variety of functions. Most notably, it shields the okapi’s skin from the constant moisture of the forest. Think of it as a natural moisturizer that helps maintain the soft, velvety feel of the okapi’s coat. No other animal on Earth has a similar skin condition, allowing the okapi to retain its smooth, cuddly appearance. This unique trait sets the okapi apart, but it also contributes to its vulnerability, placing the species at risk of extinction.
Due to the allure of the okapi’s soft, stunning skin, poachers have been drawn to the animals. Illegal hunters and smugglers have ventured deep into the Ituri Forest for years, capturing okapis, stripping their hides, and selling them on the black market. The okapi’s skin has become a valuable commodity, fetching high prices in illegal wildlife trade networks across the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Unfortunately, this has devastated the already dwindling okapi population in the dense and isolated forests of the northeastern region. The once-beautiful animal now faces severe threats to its survival, as the illicit trade continues to jeopardize its very existence.
4. The Silent Struggle
The okapi boasts one of the longest tongues among animals. In fully grown adult males, this appendage can stretch over 14 inches (36 cm). But here, it's not just about the length. (Am I right, gentlemen?) It's more about what the tongue can accomplish. The okapi’s dark purple (sometimes almost black) tongue has a very particular function: serving as a cleaning tool.
This elusive creature extends its tongue from its mouth and wraps it around its face to clean its eyes and ears. The tongue is extraordinarily flexible and strong, allowing the okapi to keep its senses sharp while navigating the depths of the jungle. In this sense, the okapi can be likened to the lizard of the mammal world.
The long, active tongue—and its role in cleaning the eyes and ears—is essential for the okapi’s health and protection. For one, the tongue helps to prevent harmful rainforest bacteria from accumulating on the animal’s skin, head, and other areas. In the humid environment of the Equatorial jungle, bacteria can quickly spread and cause harm, but the okapi’s tongue ensures its health and shields it from viruses, infections, and other health threats. This becomes even more critical when considering that the okapi’s skin already produces sebum to combat the constant moisture of the rainforest. So, maintaining tongue health is vital!
The tongue also plays a key role in food gathering. Okapis consume between 40 and 65 pounds (18 to 29.5 kg) of leaves daily. Fortunately, the rainforest offers plenty of leaves for meals. But the okapi doesn't use its hooves to pick leaves off the ground. And, unlike humans, it doesn't have hands with opposable thumbs. So, its tongue becomes the vital tool for foraging and eating to maintain its body weight and support its growth.
3. On the Verge of Extinction
Sadly, the okapi's future in the wild looks increasingly uncertain. While they once inhabited the forests of Uganda and extended into the Central African Republic, their range has now been restricted to a small area in the far northeastern corner of the DRC. In this war-ravaged region, their numbers are perilously low. Years of political turmoil in the DRC have made it nearly impossible to implement a comprehensive conservation plan. Experts have identified the okapi as one of the most vulnerable species, at significant risk of extinction.
One major issue contributing to the okapi's decline is the rampant deforestation caused by human encroachment on their habitat. The dense forests where okapis reside are being rapidly destroyed through logging and burning. This devastation is reducing their food sources, interfering with their ability to find mates, and obstructing their natural, secretive lifestyle that once allowed them to thrive.
Illegal poaching and the wildlife trade are also major threats to the okapi's survival. The okapi's beautiful coat is highly prized in black market trading, drawing poachers at rates unseen in past decades. Additionally, the okapi’s elusive nature makes conservation efforts even more challenging. Living deep within the jungle, they remain hidden from view, allowing poachers to track them without detection. As a result, those who seek to harm the okapis rarely face any consequences. Today, experts estimate that fewer than 15,000 okapis remain in the wild.
2. A Heartbreaking Tragedy at the Reserve
The okapi is no stranger to tragic events. In 2012, a devastating incident occurred at the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the DRC’s far northeastern region. A group of illegal elephant poachers raided the reserve, resulting in a horrifying tragedy. Six rangers who had been protecting the okapis from hunters and poachers were murdered. Other staff members were taken hostage, and, tragically, 13 innocent okapis were slaughtered by the poachers in this brutal act of violence.
The poachers were enraged by a government initiative to tackle the illegal trade of elephant tusks elsewhere in the DRC. Understanding the immense value of the okapi to the region as a conservation symbol and the global focus on such endangered species, they chose to target these defenseless animals and the dedicated individuals working to protect them.
Unfortunately, the illegal wildlife trade continues to flourish in the DRC. Poaching is an economically appealing choice for young men who have limited employment options. Despite its extreme violence and illegality, many young people are drawn to poaching as a means to support their families. The unique, soft fur of the okapi, combined with their scarcity in the wild, makes them even more desirable to poachers who are willing to kill innocent creatures for financial gain.
Tragically, the disaster of 2012 is far from the only heartbreaking incident emerging from the northeastern DRC in recent years. In 2017, poachers and smugglers murdered another group of park rangers and reserve staff while attempting to acquire okapi pelts for the black market. The national government of the DRC has been unstable for decades, with its influence scarcely reaching the distant and isolated areas of the country's dense forests. As a result, such massacres may continue to occur without any real governmental control or proper protection for okapis and the selfless individuals working to safeguard them.
1. The Silent Language
Like most creatures, okapis have their own method of communication. It’s not nearly as complex as human language, but it’s still fascinating. While okapis occasionally use sounds like bleats, barks, and whistles to talk to each other—typical of many species—the real surprise is their ability to communicate through a subtle, inaudible language that remains unnoticed by the human ear!
Okapis have an extraordinary ability to hear at frequencies far beyond what humans can perceive. In fact, they can produce and detect infrasonic signals—ultra-low frequency calls that vibrate below 20 hertz. These vibrations are undetectable by human ears and by most mammals. If you were to stand between two okapis, they could be communicating with each other using these inaudible sounds, and you wouldn't hear a single thing.
The secret behind this phenomenon lies in the okapi’s unique ear structure and vocal cords. Their large, adorable ears contain specialized features that enable them to hear frequencies lower than almost any other mammal. Additionally, their vocal cords are finely tuned to produce these low-frequency sounds, which travel exceptionally well through the dense jungle where okapis live.
Only recently have scientists developed advanced computer analysis techniques capable of detecting these infrasonic calls. As a result, we have only begun to scratch the surface in understanding the okapi’s complex social behaviors, mating rituals, and more. Much of their world remains a mystery to us!
