Looking at the Okapi you may think they are an odd looking zebra, but would you be surprised if I told you they are actually a weird looking giraffe? Yep, that’s right! These bizarre creatures are actually members of the Giraffe family and can only be found in the Rainforest located throughout the northeast portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Luckily, one fifth of their home range has been designated as the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, which just happens to be a World Heritage Site, so this should offer them some much needed protection.

Adapting to the Rainforest Lifestyle

Life in the Rainforest isn’t always the easiest. Sure you have an abundance of food and your surroundings are beautiful but you also have to deal with an abundance of predators and a ton of rain. So how does the Okapi handle these challenges? Well, first of all, they trick their would be predators by blending into the surroundings. The Okapi’s stripes make them very difficult to see in an environment that is dominated by alternating patterns of sunlight and shadows. Okay, so

maybe they are able to hide but how do they handle all of the rain? Do you see that their reddish-colour fur on their backs? Besides being incredibly soft, this fur is also very oily, which basically waterproofs the Okapi as the water just rolls of their back. This makes our Giraffe-like friend perfectly adapted to a life in the Rainforest.

A Giraffe, Really?

You may be asking yourself how can the Okapi be a member of the giraffe family…..they don’t have a long neck?!? Perhaps they would have a longer neck if they lived in a different environment but a super, duper long neck just wouldn’t work in the dense Rainforest. Throughout evolution they have developed a shorter neck to allow them additional mobility in the thick forest. As well, regular giraffes need the long neck to feed on the leaves of tall trees but this isn’t the case for our short-necked giraffe. They have vegetation all around them!

No, They Really Are Related to Giraffes

You still don’t believe that they are a member of the Giraffe family??? Take a close look at the mouth of the Okapi, you will notice they share the same dark, prehensile tongue as their cousins, which helps them strip the buds and leaves off the trees. As well, check out their ears! Yep, those are the same, large ears that a Giraffe has, which help them hear even the slightest sound, so don’t try sneaking up behind an Okapi.