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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 a report on the animals he met while traveling in the Congo. Confirmation of the facts described in the report was found only 10 years later, when a similar description was provided by another traveler - Johnson. Following this, information was also confirmed by zoologists who published a description of the animal, which is new to the public. The original name of the species did not match the existing one; first, the individuals gave the name "Johnson's horse".
If we consider okapi in more detail, we can distinguish that these animals belong to artiodactyls. In external parameters, they very much resemble zebras, however, giraffes are the closest to their relatives. In this regard, there are some similarities in the structure of the body of okapi. 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 the giraffe’s. A similar feature is also a long blue tongue, characteristic of giraffes. Interestingly, the length of the tongue can reach 35 centimeters. To distinguish males from females is quite simple, 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 animals you can see horizontal stripes, very similar to the color of the zebra. The legs of the okapi are usually white, and the stripes on them are black or brown.
The size of okapi - the animal is quite large. 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 tail of an okapi is on average 50 centimeters. The mass of the animal is also impressive, it can reach 350 kilograms.
What do okapi eat?
As for nutrition, it is very similar in diet to that of giraffes. The basis of the menu is made up of tree leaves, mushrooms and fruits. Although okapi are very demanding on their diet and always carefully choose products, sometimes they can eat poisonous berries, plants or even parts of burnt trees, for example, left over after a lightning strike. In addition to the listed menu items, these animals also periodically consume reddish clay, which is found in various reservoirs. This product is for them a source of missing minerals and components.
Breeding
The mating season in okapi, as in most animals, begins in spring. As a rule, the first thing you can encounter is the struggle of males for females. Representatives of the strong half collide with each other by their necks. After the male recaptures 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 tuned.
The gestation period in females of this species takes quite a long time. As a rule, the female carries the calf within 15 months. Most often, the female gives birth in the interval between August and October. In Congo, the rainy season traditionally begins at this time. The female selects the place for childbirth quite carefully, choosing the most remote places where she can hide for several days. The baby, which is just being born, first lies among the vegetation, hiding so that it is not seen. To recognize the presence of the baby is possible only by soft sounds that resemble a cough. Also, sometimes okapi cubs emit something like a weak whistling or lowing. Even the mother herself has to look for her baby, focusing solely on the voice. Young okapi are born quite large, and even at the time of birth can reach 30 kilograms of weight.
Males independently feed cubs within six months after the birth. To date, the process of formation of okapi has not been reliably described, so it is impossible to say exactly when the cub becomes an independent individual. Upon reaching the age of 12 months, males gradually begin to show horns. By two years, individuals reach puberty. At three years old, okapi can already be considered an adult. How long okapi can live in natural conditions, to date, no one has been reliably established.
Where can I meet?
In natural conditions, you can meet okapi far from everywhere. These animals live mainly in the tropics in northeastern Congo. Most often, these individuals can be found in the reserves of Maiko, Salonga and Virunga.
Territories at an altitude of 500 to 1000 meters above sea level are chosen as the place to place okapi. They are best suited for life to areas that are well overgrown with shrubbery, as in such areas it is easiest for them to hide. Very rarely okapi can be found in open spaces. As a rule, these are flat areas near water.
It is interesting that males and females have separate territories on which they feed. However, these areas may coincide in some cases. In addition, males can easily let females into their possessions if there is such a need.
Today, okapi 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 due primarily to the destruction of forests.
How do okapi live in captivity?
After the discovery of okapi as a new species of animal, they could settle it in the zoo and provide all the necessary conditions for life only in 1919. At the same time, the animal lived in captivity for only 50 days. The first place that okapi visited was the Antwerp Zoo. Later, it was in the same zoo that the female okapi lived for a long time. Her life 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. Quite difficult for people was given the process of reproduction of okapi in captivity. 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 in keeping captive in captivity is, first of all, their fastidiousness to living conditions. For example, sudden changes in temperature, as well as fluctuations in humidity, are detrimental to them. Moreover, okapi are very sensitive to the composition of food.
Despite the existing problems, it is worth noting that considerable success has already been achieved in arranging conditions for keeping okapi. At the moment, young individuals adapt much faster to life in the aviary.At first, experts offer animals only food familiar to them, and also try to not disturb them at all if possible. The fact is that it is very important to ensure calm to the cubs. In a severe stressful situation, the animal’s heart 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 is it 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 aviaries. As a rule, only one bright area stands out, the rest of the territory is left obscured.
Video: Okapia (Okapia johnstoni)
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