Okapi is a striped giraffe. Okapi animal or pygmy forest giraffe: description, photo, video about okapi life Where okapi lives

Okapi is an incredible animal. Resembling a zebra, a deer and a bit of an anteater, it resembles an incorrectly assembled puzzle. When you first meet the beast, the question arises: how did such a horse appear? And is it a horse? Scientists say no. Okapi - distant relative. Inhabitants equatorial Africa have known the miracle beast for thousands of years, but Europeans only became aware of it at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Origin of the species and description

The history of the development of okapi as a species is still being studied, there is almost no information about the origin of the genus. At the very beginning of the 20th century, scientists in London received the remains of an animal. The first analysis showed that there was no relationship with the horse. The second is that the closest common ancestor of the okapi and giraffe has long since died out. No new data has been received that could refute or change the information received by the British.

Video: Okapi

AT late XIX centuries, the natives of the Congo told about wild animals similar to horses to the traveler G. Stanley. Based on his reports, the governor of the English colony of Uganda, Johnston, launched an active investigation. It was he who handed over the okapi skins to scientists for study. Within six months, the animal new to Europe was officially called "Johnston's horse." But the analysis of the remains showed that the okapi has nothing to do with the horse or any other known species. The original name "okapi" became official.

Scientists attribute the animal to the class of mammals, the order of artiodactyls, the suborder of ruminants. Based on the proven similarity of the skeleton with the extinct ancestors of giraffes, the okapi is assigned to the giraffidae family. But his genus and appearance are personal, Johnston's former horse is the only representative of the okapi species.

The pedigree of the animal includes two representatives of the giraffe family, which does not facilitate its study. Throughout the 20th century, zoos around the world encouraged the capture of animals in order to get a curiosity in their collections. Okapi - unusually shy and unadapted to stress animals, cubs and adults died in captivity. In the late 20s, the largest zoo in Belgium managed to create conditions in which the female Tele lived for 15 years, only to die of starvation at the height of the Second World War.

Appearance and features

The appearance of the African miracle beast is unique. It has a brown color, with overflows from dark chocolate to red. The legs are white with black stripes in the upper part, the head is white-gray with a large brown spot on the upper part, the circumference of the mouth and the large elongated nose are black. The brown tail with a brush has a length of about 40 cm. There is no smooth transition from color to color, islands of wool of the same shade are clearly limited.

Males have small horns, which suggests a relationship with a giraffe. Each year, the horn tips fall off and new ones grow. The growth of animals is about one and a half meters, while the neck is shorter than that of a relative, but noticeably elongated. Females are traditionally a couple of tens of centimeters taller and do not have horns. Average weight an adult 250 kg, a newly born calf - 30 kg. In length, the beast reaches 2 meters or more.

Interesting fact! Gray-blue, like a giraffe, the okapi tongue reaches a length of 35 cm. A clean animal easily washes away dirt from their eyes and ears.

The okapi has no predator resistance tools. The only way survive - escape. Evolution has endowed him with sensitive hearing, allowing him to learn about the approach of danger in advance. The ears are large, elongated, surprisingly mobile. Keeping the ears clean, regularly cleaning them with the tongue, the beast is forced to maintain fine hearing. Cleanliness is another defense mechanism against a predator.

Representatives of the species do not have vocal cords. Exhaling sharply, they make a sound like a cough or whistle. Newborn babies use mooing more often. In addition, the okapi lacks a gallbladder. An alternative is special pouches behind the cheeks, where the animal can store food for a while.

Where does the okapi live?

The habitat is clearly limited. AT wild nature former Johnston horses can only be found in the northeastern part Democratic Republic Congo. In the last century, okapi possessions extended to the border area of ​​the neighboring state - Uganda. Total deforestation is gradually driving animals out of their usual territories. And shy okapi are not capable of looking for a new home.

Animals choose their place to live carefully. It must be a fertile area about a kilometer above sea level. Animals do not check the last indicator, trusting their instincts. The plain is dangerous for them; it is extremely rare to see a forest horse in an empty clearing. Okapis settle in areas overgrown with tall bushes, where it is easy to hide and hear a predator making its way through the branches.

The rainforests of central Africa have become a suitable place for the okapi to live. Fastidious animals choose a house not only by the number of bushes, but also by the height of the leaves growing on them. It is also important that the thickets have a vast territory - the herd does not settle in a heap, each individual has a separate corner. In captivity, the conditions for the survival of the okapi are created artificially.

It is important to ensure:

• Dark enclosure with a small lighted area;
• The absence of other animals nearby;
• Feeding from the leaves that the individual ate in the wild;
• For a mother with a cub - a dark corner that imitates a dense forest, and complete peace;
• Minimal contact with a person until the individual is completely accustomed to new conditions;
• Habitual weather- a sudden change in temperature can kill the animal.

There are fewer than 50 zoos in the world where okapis live. Their breeding is a complex and delicate process. But the result was an increase in the life expectancy of the animal up to 30 years. It is difficult to say how long a forest horse exists in freedom, scientists agree on an interval of 20 to 25 years.

What does okapi eat?

The diet of the okapi, like the giraffe, consists of leaves, buds, and fruits. Too tall giraffe, not liking to bend down to the ground, chooses tall trees or upper branches of ordinary ones. Okapi, having the height of an average European, prefers to feed at a height of up to 3 meters above the ground. It grasps a branch of a tree or shrub with a long tongue and pulls the leaves into its mouth. Leaning down to the very ground, he takes out tender young grass.

Interesting fact! The okapi menu contains poisonous plants and toxic mushrooms. To neutralize the effects of harmful substances, they eat charcoal. Trees burned down after a lightning strike are quickly becoming a subject of interest for forest gourmets.

There are 30 to 100 species in the okapi diet. tropical plants, including ferns, fruits, and even mushrooms. Minerals they get from coastal clay, which is eaten with great care - open areas and proximity to water pose a great danger. Animals feed during the day. Night outings are extremely rare and only when absolutely necessary.

Animals eat, as well as sleep, very carefully. Their ears catch the rustle, and their legs are ready to run at any moment of the meal. Therefore, people managed to study the eating habits of okapi only in zoos. For the first six months of life, babies eat milk, after which they can continue feeding from their mother or stop it completely.

Interesting fact! Digestive system small okapi assimilates mother's milk without residue. The cubs do not leave waste products, which allows them to be invisible to predators.

Keeping animals in the zoo requires care. After capture, adults are very frightened, and their nervous system not adapted to stress. Animal life can be saved only by simulating the conditions of life in the wild. This also applies to nutrition. An elaborate menu of leaves, buds, fruits and mushrooms helps people to tame the okapi. Only after the individual gets used to people, it is transferred to the zoo.

Features of character and lifestyle

Okapi are incredibly shy. People obtain information about their daily behavior only in captivity. It is impossible to observe the population in the vastness of central Africa - constant wars make any scientific expedition life-threatening for researchers. Conflicts also affect the number of animals: poachers enter reserves and build traps for valuable animals.

And in captivity, animals behave differently. Building a clear hierarchy, males fight for supremacy. Butting other individuals with horns and hooves, the strongest male indicates his power by stretching his neck up. The rest often make respectful bows to the ground. But this form of interaction is unusual for okapi, they are better off in single enclosures. The exception is mothers with babies.

On the behavior of the okapi in vivo the following is known:

• Each individual occupies a certain territory, grazes on it independently;
• Females adhere to clear boundaries, not allowing strangers into their possessions;
• Males are irresponsible about borders, often grazing close to each other;
• An individual marks its possessions with the help of fragrant glands on its legs and hooves, as well as urine;
• The female can freely cross the male's territory. If a cub is with her, he is not in danger from a senior representative;
• The attachment of the mother to the cub is very strong, she protects the baby for at least six months after birth;
• During the mating period, pairs are formed that easily break up as soon as the female feels the need to protect the baby;
• Occasionally they form groups of several individuals, perhaps to go to a watering place. But there is no confirmation of this hypothesis;

Social structure and reproduction

Okapis don't need leaders. To repel the attacks of enemies, to defend the territory from competitors, to raise offspring together - this is not in the nature of forest horses. Choose a piece of forest for yourself, mark it and graze until it's time to run - this is how cautious animals behave. Solely owning a small area, sensitive okapis provide themselves with silence around, reducing the chances of enemies for a successful hunt.

The mating period falls on May-July, when the female and male briefly unite, forming a pair. The next 15 months, the female carries the fetus. Babies are born during the rainy season from late summer to mid-autumn. The smallest newborns weigh 14 kg, large - up to 30. Dad is not present at the birth, interest in new family he does not experience. However, the female, accustomed to freedom, experiences the coldness of her partner without emotions.

AT last days pregnancy future mom goes into the thicket of the forest to find a deaf, dark clearing. There she leaves the baby, and the next few days she comes to him to feed. The newborn burrows into fallen leaves and freezes, only the owner of the sensitive hearing of the okapi can find him. The baby makes sounds similar to mooing to make it easier for mom to find him.

The cohesion of this couple will be envied by lovebirds. In the first year of life, a small okapi literally sticks to mommy and follows her everywhere. How long does this family idyll, is unknown to man. Female cubs become sexually mature after one and a half years, young males come to this at 28 months of age. However, maturation continues until 3 years.

Natural enemies of the okapi

The okapi has no friends. They are afraid of everything that makes sounds and smells, or simply casts a shadow. In the ranking of the most dangerous enemies, it occupies the first place. big cat from sneaks up to the victim silently, and in pursuit develops considerable speed. The sensitive sense of smell of the okapi allows you to notice the leopard lurking in ambush, but sometimes this happens too late.

Hyenas are also dangerous for okapi. These nocturnal hunters hunt alone or in packs led by a leading female. Massive okapi surpass hyenas in volume and weight, but smart predators hit the victim with one powerful bite to the neck. Despite light sleep, forest horses are present in the diet of hyenas, whose dinner begins after midnight. Features of the stomach of a predator allow you to eat large game without a trace, even horns and hooves are used.

Okapi are sometimes attacked. For this cat, herbivorous artiodactyls - favorite dish. In DR Congo climatic conditions make predators feel comfortable. Lions are inferior to leopards in the ability to move silently, and this allows okapi to fall into their paws less often. In pursuit of thickets, predators have almost no chance of overtaking frisky prey, and cautious okapi rarely go out into open areas.

Humans cause the greatest damage to the okapi population. The value for poachers is the meat and velvety skin of the animal. Africans are unable to defeat the victim in open combat, so they build traps in the habitats of herbivores. Hunting for okapi continues despite attempts by the world community to ban it.

At the beginning of the 20th century, zoos caused great damage to the population, thoughtlessly trying to get okapi into their possessions, not knowing how to keep them alive in captivity. Attempts to get offspring within zoos ended in failure until the 60s. People in an effort to earn money are often merciless.

Population and species status

The population of the species is rapidly declining. Due to the secrecy of animals, it was difficult to count their number at the time of the discovery of the species. However, even then it was known that the pygmies exterminated them in huge quantities. The okapi skin has an unusually beautiful color, velvety to the touch, so there has always been a demand for it. Animal meat also did not leave indifferent lovers of delicious food.

In 2013, the number of animals living in the wild was estimated at 30-50 thousand individuals. By the beginning of 2019, there were 10,000 of them left. The number of okapi living in zoos does not exceed fifty. As of September 2018, the species is not included in the Red Book, but this is only a matter of time. Conservation measures almost do not yield results due to the difficult political situation in the DR Congo - the only habitat of the okapi in the wild.

Nature reserves are located on the territory of the state. The purpose of their creation is to preserve the okapi population. However, armed groups of residents of the DR Congo regularly violate the boundaries of the reservation and continue to set traps for animals. Often the purpose of such atrocities is food. People feed on endangered animals, and it is difficult to stop them. In addition to okapi hunters, the reserves attract gold and ivory hunters.

Another reason for the decline in the population is the deterioration of living conditions. Rapid deforestation has already led to the disappearance of the okapi from the forests of Uganda. Now the situation is repeating itself in the northeastern forests of DR Congo. Unable to survive outside the forest, the okapi are doomed unless the government of the war-torn country takes emergency action. World science community is trying to put pressure on the President of the DR Congo Felix Tshisekedi.

Within the boundaries of the okapi locals established points of legal trapping of animals. Under the supervision of scientists in zoos, animals live longer than in the wild. The extermination of representatives of the giraffe family can be prevented by providing them with a safe habitat. Central Africa does not have such conditions, and there is no need to wait for an early resolution of military conflicts within the country.

The okapi is an amazing animal. An unusual color, a velvety-brown skin with tints, a surprisingly fine hearing and sense of smell - all this makes the forest horse unique. Picky about habitat, food, even each other, they face a lot of problems in ordinary life. But it is difficult to find more independent and independent representatives of the fauna. Therefore, it is important to prevent the extermination of the species. Okapi- a useful animal for the ecosystem.

The okapi is an artiodactyl mammal native to rainforest located in the northeastern part of the Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Although the striped markings on the animal resemble those of a zebra, the okapi is most closely related to the giraffe. Okapi and giraffe are the only members of the Giraffidae family.

In 2013, it was estimated that there are 10,000 okapi living in the wild. By comparison, in 2012 there were 40,000 of them. In the same year, the okapi was listed as an endangered species.

Appearance of the okapi

In shape, the body of the okapi resembles the body of a giraffe - these animals also have long legs, but the neck is much shorter. common feature is a long tongue, its length is 35 centimeters, it easily reaches the eyes of the okapi. With the help of this tongue, the animal gets buds and leaves from trees. In addition, the tongue plays an important role in hygiene, with which the okapi cleans its ears and washes its eyes. It is worth noting that these are very neat and clean animals. The tongue of the okapi, like that of the giraffe, is bluish-gray in color.

The coat is velvety dark brown with a reddish sheen. The legs are decorated with light horizontal stripes, thanks to them the okapi look like a zebra from a distance. On the muzzle there are light and dark shades.

Males have horns and are covered with skin. The females do not have horns. The ears are large, and the animal has perfect hearing, so it is difficult for a predator to catch it.

The length of the body from head to tail varies between 1.9-2.3 meters. The length of the tail itself is 35-42 centimeters. In height, okapi grow to 1.5-1.8 meters.

Representatives of this species weigh from 200 to 350 kilograms, while males and females have the same size.

Lifestyle

Like related giraffes, okapi feed primarily on tree leaves: with their long and flexible tongue, animals grab a young shoot of a bush and then rip off foliage from it with a sliding motion. But since the neck of the okapi is shorter than that of a giraffe, this animal prefers to eat only that vegetation that grows closer to the ground. In addition, okapi eat grasses, ferns, mushrooms, and fruits. As studies by the zoologist De Medina have shown, the okapi is quite picky in the choice of food: out of 13 plant families that form the lower tier of the rainforest, it regularly uses only 30 species. Okapi droppings also contained charcoal and brackish clay containing saltpeter from the banks of forest streams. Apparently, this is how the animal compensates for the lack of mineral feed. Okapis feed during daylight hours.

Okapis are active during the daytime. Adult females have clearly defined areas, while the areas of males overlap and are not clearly defined. Okapi are animals that live alone. Occasionally they can be found in small groups, but for what reasons they form them is still unknown.

reproduction

The okapi has a gestation period of 450 days. The birth of offspring depends on the seasons: childbirth occurs in August-October, during the rainy season. For childbirth, the female retires to the most remote places, and the newborn cub lies hidden in the thicket for several days. The mother finds him by his voice. The voice of an adult okapi resembles a quiet cough. The same sounds are made by the cub, but it can also moo softly like a calf or occasionally whistle softly. The mother is very attached to the baby: there are cases when the female tried to drive even people away from the cub. Of the sense organs, the okapi has the most developed hearing and sense of smell. In captivity, okapi can live up to 30 years.

Food habits

Okapis feed mainly on leaves, buds, and shoots from more than 100 various kinds forest plants. Many of which are known to be poisonous to humans. Therefore, there is an opinion that this is why okapis eat coal obtained from burned forest trees. Carbon, in the form of charcoal, is a good antidote. In addition, they eat herbs, fruits, ferns, and mushrooms.

The animal has a long and thin bluish tongue. Okapi can't jump to reach the top branches on a tree, but thanks to his movable neck and long tongue, the animal takes out branches at a height of up to 3 m.

Life in captivity

For a long time, zoos could not create conditions for the life of okapi. The first time an okapi lived in captivity at the Antwerp Zoo for 50 days happened only in 1919. But already from 1928 to 1943, a female okapi lived in this zoo. She died of starvation during World War II. They also did not immediately learn how to breed okapi in captivity. The first offspring born in captivity died. Only in 1956 in Paris were able to leave the cub.

Okapi is a very picky animal. For example, representatives of this genus cannot stand sudden changes in temperature and humidity. They are also very sensitive to the composition of food. True, in recent times Some progress has been made in keeping and breeding okapi in captivity. It is noted that young individuals adapt to the conditions of the enclosure faster. At first, they try not to disturb the animal. The composition of the feed is only the usual food. If the animal feels danger, it may die from stress, as the heart cannot withstand a heavy load.

When the animal calms down and gets used to people a little, it is transported to the zoo. At the same time, males and females in the enclosure must be kept separately, as well as monitor the lighting. There should not be more than one brightly lit area in the aviary. If the female gives birth in captivity, then it is imperative to isolate her and the cub. For them, a dark corner should be created that would imitate a thicket. Once used to, okapis become friendly to people. They can even take food directly from their hands.

1. Okapi, or forest giraffe, is a rare animal belonging to the giraffe family. AT natural environment they live only on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa, so seeing okapi live is not an easy task. In addition, these creatures are very shy and secretive, so you will have to try twice.

2. Okapi have impressive dimensions: the body length of an adult is about 2 m, weight is about 250 kg, tail length is up to 40 cm. And there is also a very long tongue: like giraffes related to them, okapi feed on tree leaves and grass; less often - mushrooms and fruits.

3. Forest giraffes are solitary, diurnal; they can be found in pairs only in mating season. The researchers note that occasionally okapi still form groups, but no explanation has yet been found for this behavior.

4. The duration of pregnancy in a forest giraffe is 440-450 days: as a result, a cub weighing 14-30 kg is born. On average, okapis live 20-30 years.

5. The main problem of the forest giraffe is the constant risk of being in the stomach of the most dangerous enemy - the leopard. The okapi has a well-developed hearing, which allows the animal to react in time to the approaching danger.

6. Okapi are very similar to horses, in addition, they have a color similar to zebras. That is why the traveler Henry Stanley could not surprise the natives with his horses: the pygmies replied that a similar creature lives in their forests. This is how the first information about the existence of okapi was obtained in 1890.

7. The world does not know much about okapi: as already mentioned, these animals live in the country, where things are going very badly. Besides, forest giraffes lead a predominantly solitary lifestyle and try to avoid prying eyes. But who knows, perhaps in the future, researchers will be able to get to know the okapi better.

Video

Sources

http://www.proxvost.info/animals/africa/okapi.php https://animalreader.ru/okapi-polosatyiy-zhiraf.html https://wiki2.org/ru/%D0%9E%D0%BA %D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B8

Okapi belongs to the giraffe family. No one knows how many individuals of this species live in the wild. Okapis live exclusively in lowland rainforests. tropical forests northern, central and eastern parts of Zaire, as well as on the border of Zaire and Uganda.

photo: Derek Keats

Appearance

Although characteristics males testify to a relationship with a giraffe - in okapi and giraffes on the head there are small horns, more precisely, bone outgrowths covered with skin and overgrown with hair, but outwardly okapi is most similar to a zebra. He has relatively long neck. The forehead, neck and body are brown, with light brown or gray places on cheeks, throat and chest. Females are slightly taller than males. Stripes on the legs make them invisible in the forest. The length of an adult animal is 2-2.1 m, and the weight is 200-250 kg. Newborns weigh about 16-20 kg.

photo: Derek Keats

Food habits

Okapis feed primarily on leaves, buds, and shoots from over 100 different types of forest plants. Many of which are known to be poisonous to humans. Therefore, there is an opinion that this is why okapis eat coal obtained from burned forest trees. Carbon, in the form of charcoal, is a good antidote. In addition, they eat herbs, fruits, ferns, and mushrooms.

The animal has a long and thin bluish tongue. The okapi does not know how to jump to reach the upper branches on the tree, but thanks to its movable neck and long tongue, the animal reaches branches at a height of up to 3 m.

photo: Alan Hill

reproduction

Male and female okapi keep alone, and meet together only during the mating season. A female ready to mate marks her territory with a special scent, which is a call to action for the male.

Okapi pregnancy is quite long - it lasts 450 days. Newborns are able to stand on their feet after 6-12 hours. They spend the first day or two of their lives near their mother and explore environment. After that, they find a suitable shelter and form a kind of nest. Over the next two months, they spend 80% of their time in this nest. Stealthy behavior promotes rapid growth and provides protection from predators. A disturbed calf lies motionless in its nest, and a female okapi will aggressively defend her calf. They become independent at the age of nine months.

Males begin to develop their antlers at about one year of age and reach their adult size before three years of age. It is believed that they become sexually mature at the age of about two years. In captivity, okapi have been known to live up to 33 years.

photo:Paul MOINE

Behavior and habitats

The okapi lives in dense rainforests and is diurnal. It is known that it prefers dense, impassable places and advances in them along well-trodden paths. A convenient place for him to live is shaded places where the branches and leaves of growing trees form thick, light-tight arches.

Okapi are found singly or in pairs: a female and her offspring. Territories of males and females often overlap, the ranges of males tend to be slightly larger than those of females. Although okapis are not social animals, they may spend some time in small groups, such as when feeding.

photo:photocat001

Status and conservation

The exact amount of okapi in nature is unknown. It is very difficult to obtain permission to catch this rare animal. Therefore, it is kept in zoos very rarely. It breeds poorly in captivity. Since 1932, the okapi has been protected in Zaire, but it has been hunted to this day. Habitat loss due to deforestation, as well as poaching, continues to limit the species' range and have a detrimental effect on population numbers. The range of the okapi is very limited, so the future of these animals directly depends on its conservation.

photo: Larry

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Okapi, or Johnston's okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a species of artiodactyls, the only representative of the okapi genus. They live only in the Ituri rainforests, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa. Although okapi wear striped knee socks and are similar in appearance to horses, they are most closely related to giraffes.

Perhaps the most unusual fact about the okapi is that it was not known to science until 1901. Its taxonomic name, Okapia johnstoni, comes from its native Central African name, and the name of the person who first "discovered" it, Sir Harry Johnston, a British explorer, naturalist and colonial administrator.

Although the okapi resembles a horse in appearance, they have a relatively long neck, although not as long as that of its giraffe relative. Most of the body is painted in a velvety dark chestnut color. The animal's cheeks, throat and chest are lighter shades and can be either light brown or gray. The coat of the okapi is slightly oily to the touch and has a delicate fragrance. The tops of the hind and forelegs have distinct light stripes, the underparts are white, with the exception of longitudinal dark stripes on the front of the forelegs and a horizontal black stripe above the hooves on each leg.

A blue sticky tongue, about 35 cm long, is often used not only for washing the eyelids, but also for reading the ears, both inside and out. Male okapis have short, skin-covered small horns. Big ears help in time to detect a predator, for example, a leopard. These relatives of the giraffe weigh from 200 to 350 kg, the height at the withers is from 1.5 to 2.0 m.

Since okapi are very shy and secretive animals that live in hard-to-reach places and avoid meeting with a person, most of information about the biology of Johnston's okapi has been obtained from animals kept in captivity. They are largely solitary and although they were once thought to be nocturnal, okapi are now known to be active during the day as well.

They feed mainly on leaves, herbs, fruits, and fungi, some of which are known to be poisonous. It has been suggested that this is why, in addition, okapis also eat charcoal from burnt trees, which is an excellent antidote after ingesting toxins. Along with the consumption of a huge variety of plant material, okapi also eat clay, which provides their body with the necessary salts and minerals in its plant-based diet.

Both males and females have their own foraging areas, but these are not territorial animals, their holdings overlap, and sometimes okapis can graze together in small groups during short period time. Okapis are also known to communicate with each other using low "puffing" sounds and rely on hearing in the surrounding forest where they are unable to see very far.

The okapi has several methods by which they mark their territory: it can be resin - a similar substance secreted from the glands on the legs, and a mark with the help of urine, both males and females rub their necks against trees for the same purpose. Males defend their domains but allow females to pass through.

The okapi has a gestation period of 450 days. The birth of offspring depends on the seasons: childbirth occurs in August-October, during the rainy season. For childbirth, the female retires to the most remote places, and the newborn cub lies hidden in the thicket for several days. To communicate with their young, okapi mothers use infrasonic waves, a sound that is below the range of human hearing - also used by elephants.

The young are weaned at six months, although they may continue to take milk for some time after that. The horns of young males appear at the age of about one year, and reach their adult size at the age of three. They are believed to reach sexual maturity after two years. Okapi in captivity lived up to 33 years.

Although okapi are not classified as endangered, they are under threat from habitat destruction and poaching. The population is estimated at 10,000-20,000 individuals.

Okapi is a very unusual animal, which not everyone knows about nowadays. The discovery of this species in the animal kingdom made a splash in the twentieth century. The first information about okapi was presented by the famous traveler G. Stanley. In 1890, Stanley wrote and published an account of the animals he encountered while traveling in the Congo. Confirmation of the facts described in the report was found only 10 years later, when another traveler, Johnson, presented a similar description. Next, the information was confirmed by zoologists, who published a description of a new animal for the public. The original name of the species did not correspond to the existing one, at first the individuals were given the name "Johnson's horse".

If we consider the okapi in more detail, it will be possible to distinguish that these animals belong to artiodactyls. In external parameters, they very much resemble zebras, however, their closest relatives are giraffes. In this regard, there are some similarities in the structure of the okapi body. They, like giraffes, have fairly long legs and an elongated neck. However, it is worth noting that the okapi's neck is still not as long as that of a giraffe. A similar feature is also the long blue tongue common to giraffes. Interestingly, the length of the tongue can reach 35 centimeters. Males are quite easy to distinguish from females, because they have horns on their heads. The color of the okapi is quite dark, the color changes from brown to reddish hues. On the legs of this species of animal, you can see horizontal stripes, very similar to the color of a zebra. The legs of the okapi are usually white, and the stripes on them are black or brown.

In size, okapi is a rather large animal. The length of his body can reach two and a half meters, if you do not take into account the length of the tail. In growth, animals usually reach one and a half meters. The length of the okapi tail is on average 50 centimeters. The mass of the animal is also impressive, it can reach 350 kilograms.

What do okapis eat?

As for nutrition, it is very similar in diet to the diet of giraffes. The menu is based on tree leaves, mushrooms and fruits. Although okapi are very picky about their diet and always choose their foods carefully, sometimes they can be eaten. poisonous berries, plants or even parts of burnt trees, for example, left after a lightning strike. In addition to the listed menu items, these animals also periodically consume reddish clay, which is found near various reservoirs. This product is a source of missing minerals and components for them.

reproduction

The mating season for okapi, like most animals, begins in the spring. As a rule, the first thing you may encounter is the struggle of males for females. Representatives of the strong half collide with each other's necks. After the male wins back his female, the mating period begins. It does not last long, and this time is that rare moment when you can catch representatives of different sexes of okapi together. Sometimes it happens to see, together with a couple, a small one-year-old cub, to which the male is still positively disposed.

The gestation period for females of this species takes quite for a long time. As a rule, the female carries the cub for 15 months. Most often, the female gives birth between August and October. In the Congo, the rainy season traditionally begins at this time. The female selects a place for childbirth quite carefully, choosing the most remote areas where it will be possible to hide for several days. The cub, which is just being born, at first lies among the vegetation, hiding so that it is not seen. You can recognize the presence of a baby only by soft sounds that resemble a cough. Also, sometimes okapi cubs emit something like a weak whistle or lowing. Even the mother herself has to look for her baby, focusing solely on the voice. Okapi cubs are born quite large, and even at the time of birth they can reach 30 kilograms of weight.

Males feed their young on their own for six months after birth. To date, the process of becoming an okapi has not been reliably described, so it is impossible to say exactly at what point the cub becomes an independent individual. Upon reaching the age of 12 months, horns begin to appear in males little by little. By the age of two, individuals reach sexual maturity. At three years old, okapi can already be considered an adult. How long okapis can live in natural conditions has not been reliably established to date.

Where can you meet?

AT natural conditions You can meet okapi far from everywhere. These animals live mainly in the tropics in the northeastern part of the Congo. Most often, these individuals can be found in the reserves of Maiko, Salonga and Virunga.

Places for placing okapi choose territories at an altitude of 500 to 1000 meters above sea level. Areas that are well overgrown with shrubs are best suited for their life, since in such areas it is easiest for them to hide. It is extremely rare to find okapi in open spaces. As a rule, these are flat areas near water.

Interestingly, males and females separate territories on which they feed. However, these locations may overlap in some cases. In addition, males can easily let females into their possessions if necessary.

Today, okapis are already classified as rare animals and are listed in the Red Book, however, despite this, their exact number in the Congo has not been reliably established. However, there is a decrease in the number of individuals. This is primarily due to the destruction of forests.

After the discovery of the okapi as a new species of animal, it was only in 1919 that they were able to settle it in the zoo and provide all the conditions necessary for life. At the same time, the animal lived in captivity for only 50 days. The first place the okapi visited was the Antwerp Zoo. In the future, it is in the same zoo long time lived a female okapi. Her life activity in captivity was carried out from 1928 to 1943. Perhaps the animal would have lived even longer, but, unfortunately, died with the outbreak of World War II due to lack of food. The process of breeding okapi in captivity was also quite difficult for people. After the first attempts, the cubs simply died. The first baby that people managed to go out and raise was born only in 1956 in Paris.

The reason for the difficulty of keeping okapi in captivity is, first of all, their pickiness to living conditions. For example, they are detrimental abrupt shifts temperature, as well as fluctuations in air humidity. Moreover, okapis are very sensitive to the composition of food.

In spite of existing problems, it is worth noting that today considerable success has already been achieved in arranging the conditions for keeping okapi. At the moment, young individuals adapt much faster to life in an aviary. At first, specialists offer animals only food that is familiar to them, and also try not to disturb them at all if possible. The fact is that it is very important to ensure the calmness of the cubs. In a strong stressful situation the heart of the animal may simply not withstand the load, as a result of which the okapi will die. Only after the animal gets used to contact with people, it is transported to the zoo. It is important that males and females are kept separately from each other. In addition, zoo specialists are instructed to control even the degree of illumination of enclosures. As a rule, only one bright area stands out, the rest of the territory is left dark.

Video: okapi (Okapia johnstoni)