TheOkpai

Okapiajohnstoni
byBrendanStelmach

Habitat:HighaltitudeforestsintheNorthEastoftheDemocraticPeoples
RepublicoftheCongo.

Diet:Okapisfeedonplants,fungi,andrichredclayfoundintheirwet
rainforesthabitat.

Niche:Thesearelargeforestmammalswholivelargelysolitarylives,
markingtheirterritorywiththeirscentglands.Theseanimalsalsodisplay
aoily,thickcoatthatrepelstheheavyrainoftheirhabitat.

Predators:Theleopardistheprimarynaturalpredator,asitistheonly
speciesstealthyenoughtoambushanokapi.

CauseofEndangerment:Thelargestcauseishabitatloss.Humansare
encroachingonthealreadysmallterritoryoftheOKapi,stressingits
environment,andbringingthesolitaryanimalsintouncomfortable
proximity.

ConservationEfforts:TheBrookfieldZooheadstheOkapiSpecies
SurvivalPlan,whichaimstopreservethespeciesifitwastogoextinctin
thewild.Fundsfromthisprogramalsohelpwildconservationeffortssuch
astheOkapiConservationproject.Additionally,manyprogramsare
occurringlocallywithintheCongotopreserveandbreedthespecies.

WhatCanYouDo?:Chicagoansarelucky!Oneofthebestokapi
breedingandconservationprogramsintheworldoccursattheBrookfield
zoo.Theeasiestwaytohelpconservationeffortsistogotothezoo,see
thebeautifulcreaturewithyourowneyes,andthenmakeadonationto
thezoothroughtheChicagoZoologicalFoundation.


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi_Conservation_Project
http://azanimals.com/animals/okapi/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi