Colour Brown
Length 2 - 2.2 m (6.5 - 7.25 ft)
Tail 30 - 42 cms (12 - 16.5 inches)
Weight 200 - 350 Kgs (440 - 770 lbs)
Life Expectancy Up to 30 Yrs (in Captivity)
Main Characteristics
The Okapi is closely related to the giraffe. Females are slightly larger than males.
Their coat is short, velvety and sleek and it is dark brown in colour. They have zebra like markings on their rump and upper parts of their legs. Their face is pale in colour and they have long ears, a large head and a long neck. They have bony lumps on the top of their head and in males these have developed into small horns by the time they reach 3 years of age.
They have a long, blue/black, prehensile tongue that they use to grab leaves and pull them into their mouth. They also use their tongue to groom themselves and mothers use it to groom their calf.
They are active during the day and due to the nature of their habitat they rely on their sense of hearing to warn them of things approaching. They make a "chuff" sound if they come upon another Okapi.
Habitat
The Okapi is found in the dense, tropical rainforests of north and north east Congo. They are solitary, except mothers with young, and they have overlapping home territories that are several square kilometres. They mark their territory with urine and "tar-like" secretions from scent glands on each foot.
The Okapi is closely related to the giraffe. Females are slightly larger than males.
Their coat is short, velvety and sleek and it is dark brown in colour. They have zebra like markings on their rump and upper parts of their legs. Their face is pale in colour and they have long ears, a large head and a long neck. They have bony lumps on the top of their head and in males these have developed into small horns by the time they reach 3 years of age.
They have a long, blue/black, prehensile tongue that they use to grab leaves and pull them into their mouth. They also use their tongue to groom themselves and mothers use it to groom their calf.
They are active during the day and due to the nature of their habitat they rely on their sense of hearing to warn them of things approaching. They make a "chuff" sound if they come upon another Okapi.
Habitat
The Okapi is found in the dense, tropical rainforests of north and north east Congo. They are solitary, except mothers with young, and they have overlapping home territories that are several square kilometres. They mark their territory with urine and "tar-like" secretions from scent glands on each foot.
THE OKAPI
