Okapi. Elusive as a Unicorn

[lupin_blackwolf]

September 11, 2008—The okapi—a secretive rain forest animal so elusive it has been compared to the unicorn—has been photographed for the first time in the wild, scientists with the Zoological Society of London reported yesterday.

The giraffe-like mammal with a distinctive zebra-striped rump was caught last month by trip-wire cameras set up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Virunga National Park.

The new pictures prove that okapi still inhabit the central African wildlife reserve, despite more than a decade of armed conflict in the region that has been taking its toll on Virunga's wildlife, said the society's conservation program manager Noelle Kumpel.

The total okapi population in Virunga is estimated to be 200 individuals. But a new survey of local bush-meat markets shows that at least one okapi a week is being killed illegally, Kumpel said.

"If the current rate of hunting continues, they could be extinct in two to three years," she added. The global okapi population isn't known, but experts believe that the mammal survives in the wild only in Congo's remote tropical forests, the researcher said.

—James Owen

from:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... photo.html
Go check it out! Its really, very interesting.

i have always found these secretive animals so interesting. Many people have never even heard of them. I know this article is a bit old, but just to know that there are still okapis out there is amazing, and knowing the date of the first photograph of it in its natural habitat instead of in a zoo is quite cool. Just thought that all you guys could learn a bit about this awesome animal from this article.

Heres short video about the okapi (this one is not wild. just to make that clear):
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/vid ... e_capture/

And some photos if you have never seen okapis before:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/530 ... 96fd18.jpg
http://sparklersea.webs.com/photos/Enda ... /okapi.jpg
http://www.themagazine.ca/wp-content/up ... /Okapi.jpg

[Charbanae]

That is truly amazing, I think okapi's are really beautiful animals. I hope people in Congo stop hunting okapi's.

[Toralu]

Glad they finally caught a picture C; this is a strange animal indeed.

[Legendary-Taco]

I've always been fascinated by this animal, for it's truly a beautiful creature, as well as for the fact that it's a secretive animal makes it all the more special ^^ Although, sad to hear the species is diminishing.

[LeaderOfDreams]

Truely amazing animal. I like how they compare the Okapi to a unicorn. Many people fantisize and unicorns and try to find other animals to compare them to.

Looking at the Okapi's anatomy is it closer to a Deer's anatomy. When I had the chance to see an Okapi, the keepers at the Zoo described them as a horse/deer/zebra- like animal. It was the first time I saw an Okapi and the first time I knew of their exsistance. Very beautiful animals.