# Okapi (*Okapia johnstoni*)

> The okapi is the only living relative of the giraffe, with zebra-like stripes on the legs and a long blue tongue for browsing leaves. It lives in dense rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, weighs up to 250 kg (550 lb), and is listed Endangered due to poaching and habitat loss.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Endangered
- **Range:** Lowland and montane rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially the Ituri Forest.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/okapi/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Artiodactyla
- **Family:** Giraffidae
- **Genus:** Okapia

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Okapia johnstoni |
| Diet | Leaves, shoots, fruit, and fungi |
| Habitat | Ituri and other lowland rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Lifespan | 25–30 years in the wild |
| Weight | 200–250 kg (440–550 lb); males heavier |
| Top speed | Up to 60 km/h (37 mph) in short bursts through forest |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |

## Giraffe's only cousin

Okapis share giraffe-like ossicones (horn-like bumps), long prehensile tongues, and specialised neck vertebrae despite their very different appearance. Striped legs may help calves follow mothers through dim forest.

## Elusive forest dweller

Okapis were unknown to Western science until 1901 because dense Congo rainforest hides them so effectively. They are largely solitary, marking territory with scent glands on hooves and communicating with infrasonic calls.

## Browsing and reproduction

Okapis browse more than 100 plant species, including toxic plants that would sicken many herbivores. Females hide calves in vegetation for weeks, visiting to nurse — a strategy to reduce predation by leopards.

## Conservation in a conflict zone

Okapi Wildlife Reserve in DRC protects roughly one-fifth of the wild population, but rebel activity, snaring, and deforestation threaten recovery. Estimates suggest 10,000–35,000 okapis remain — declining.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why do okapis have zebra stripes?

Leg stripes may help calves follow mothers through dark forest and confuse predators — they are not for savanna camouflage like zebra body stripes.

### How many okapis are left?

Roughly 10,000–35,000 in the wild, all in DRC. Populations are declining due to habitat loss, poaching, and civil instability.

### Are okapis giraffes?

They are the giraffe family's only other living member — not a cross between giraffe and zebra despite the striped legs.

### Where do okapis live?

Lowland and montane rainforest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially the Ituri Forest.

### Are okapis endangered?

Yes — listed Endangered on the IUCN Red List, mainly from bushmeat hunting, snares, and logging.

## Sources

- Mallon, D. et al. (2013). Okapia johnstoni. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- [Animal Diversity Web — Okapia johnstoni. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Okapia_johnstoni/)

---
Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/okapi/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.