Okapi

Okapis are amazing animals that live in the rainforests of central Africa. They have dark brown fur and white stripes on their legs. At first, people thought they were related to zebras. But they are really the only living relative of the giraffe.

A Hidden Animal

Okapis live deep in the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are very shy and hard to find. Their stripes help them blend in with the sunlight coming through the trees. Scientists did not even know about okapis until 1901. Today, they are still one of the rarest animals in the world.

Giraffe Cousins

Okapis are the only other animal in the giraffe family. They have long necks, but not as long as a giraffe's. Like giraffes, they have a very long dark tongue that can reach leaves high up. An okapi's tongue is so long it can even clean its own ears. They eat leaves, grass, and fruit from the forest.

Fun Facts

• An okapi's tongue can be 18 inches long.
• Okapis are sometimes called forest giraffes.
• Baby okapis don't poop for the first month or two to hide their smell from predators.

Did You Know?

Okapis have special glands on their feet that leave a sticky trail. This helps them find their way back home in the dark forest.