The Okapi, a reclusive species native to central Africa, is the closest living relative to the giraffe, despite its zebra-like stripes. The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are home to a total of eight Okapis, with four males and one female at the Safari Park, and two males and a single female at the Zoo.
Okapi Exhibit at the San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo’s Okapi exhibit is located in the African Woods area, where visitors can observe the Okapis up close. The exhibit is designed to mimic the Okapi’s natural habitat, the Ituri Forest in the northeast region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Okapi Details and Characteristics
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Okapia johnstoni |
| Class | Mammalia (Mammals) |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Giraffidae |
| Genus | Okapia |
| Species | johnstoni |
The Okapi’s dark purplish or reddish-brown fur is dense and feels like velvet, with an oily texture that allows water to slide off easily, keeping the Okapi dry on rainy days. Their large, upright ears catch even slight sounds, helping them avoid trouble, and they have a long, prehensile tongue, similar to a giraffe’s, which they use to strip buds and young leaves from the understory brush of their rainforest home.
Conservation Status
The Okapi is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species due to hunting and habitat loss. San Diego Zoo Global and other zoos and conservation organizations are working with local community members in the Okapi’s native habitat to protect and support this rare and unusual forest dweller.
Breeding Programs and Reproductive Sciences
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has a long history of breeding success with Okapi, with 70 Okapi born at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park since 1962. The Reproductive Sciences team monitors the estrous cycles of all female Okapi at the Zoo and Safari Park, helping inform management about the timing of natural breeding and diagnosing pregnancy.
Supporting Okapi in the Wild
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance contributes to conservation efforts in the Okapi’s native forest habitat by supporting the Reserve de Faune a Okapis located in the Ituri Forest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Annual funding to the Okapi SSP goes directly to the reserve to support guards who keep Okapi poachers at bay and exclude human encroachment into Okapi habitat.
Recent Additions to the Herd
In April 2024, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park welcomed a new male Okapi calf, the first born to Mahameli (“Meli,” mother) and Mpangi (Mm-pong-ee, father). The calf, as-yet-unnamed, will be able to be viewed by safari park visitors daily starting in April in the safari park’s African Woods area.
Visiting the Okapi Exhibit
Guests visiting the Okapis can enjoy Yaycation presented by National University, which runs through April 21, with special activities and extended Zoo hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. All Yaycation activities are included with San Diego Zoo admission or membership.
San Diego Zoo Okapi Hours and Rates
San Diego Zoo hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The cost of admission varies depending on age and membership status. For the most up-to-date information on rates, please visit the San Diego Zoo’s official website.
Contact Information
For general inquiries, the San Diego Zoo Global Public Relations team can be reached at 619-685-3291.
References:
– https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/okapi
– https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diego-zoo-safari-park-welcomes-okapi-calf-to-the-herd/3482893/
– https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/pressroom/news-releases/endangered-okapi-calf-elombe-now-exhibit-san-diego-zoo
– https://science.sandiegozoo.org/species/okapi
– https://sdzsafaripark.org/animals/okapi
– https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/plan-your-visit/hours-and-prices