In the thick Ituri Rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo wanders a rarely seen okapi. It resembles a zebra, albeit with proportions that got slightly wonky somewhere down the line. Half its body is covered in rippling white stripes that can melt into its dim surroundings under the right lighting, while the rest of it is covered in dark, purplish fur, oily enough that water slides right off it.
The little we do know about the okapi comes from a field study conducted in the 1980s using radio collars. This dearth of knowledge creates a plethora of conservation challenges for scientists and organizations working to protect this creature. Here are seven other things currently known about the okapi.
1. Okapi are Considered a “Living Fossil”
Okapi are members of the giraffidae family, a once diverse and large group of creatures that roamed Africa millions of years ago. Scientists believe that okapi and giraffes – as the surviving members of giraffids – shared a common ancestor, both species boasting a lengthy lineage transcending multiple epochs.
It’s one of the reasons why the okapi is referred to as a “living fossil,” a nickname seen even in a New York Times article published in 1982. “Every seeker after lost, legendary or otherwise mysterious creatures on the earth,” wrote John Noble Wilford in the old paper, “finds encouragement in the story of the okapi.”
