INTRODUCTION The okapi is a very unusual animal in both its appearance and behavior. The scientific name is Okapia johnstoni and they are part of the Giraffidae family. Other common names used to refer to the okapi are forest giraffe or congolese giraffe. These names stem from their natural habitat which is the rainforest in Central Africa which the Congo River runs through [1]. The okapi are on the endangered species list with approximately 25,000 okapis left in the wild due to the reduction of this habitat from logging of these forested areas in Africa and also from poaching for meat and their unusual skin [2].
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS The okapi has often been described as a cross between a zebra, giraffe, and horse. They have a dark brown