Where does the okapi live?
The okapi exists only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north and east of the Congo River. It ranges from Maiko National Park northward to the Ituri rainforest, where the Okapi Wildlife Reserve lies, and also occurs in Virunga National Park. It occasionally uses seasonally flooded areas, but it does not occur in gallery forests, swamp forests or habitats disturbed by human settlements.
What does the okapi eat?
The okapi is a herbivore: it eats tree leaves and buds, grasses, ferns, fruits and fungi. It looks like a zebra from the white stripes on its legs, but its closest relative is the giraffe: the two are the only living members of their family. It is mostly active by day and lives alone, meeting other okapis only to breed. Its long neck and large, flexible ears serve as camouflage in dense vegetation.
Is the okapi endangered?
Yes: the IUCN lists it as Endangered. It lives in a restricted area, only in tropical forests of the Congo.
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