Okapi in North America

Does anyone else find it ironic that the national zoo of South Africa had to import their African okapis from San Diego (USA)? Bronx Zoo is the only exhibit I've seen that actually looks like an okapi's forest home. San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are both basically fields - although they do have a couple trees (with fences around the trunks!), they do not even come close to representing the dense forests of west Africa.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Does anyone else find it ironic that the national zoo of South Africa had to import their African okapis from San Diego (USA)?
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?? South Africa is only an hour driving from Congo ?? African zoos can rob the wildlife blind because they are located in Africa ??

As far as I know the national zoo of South Africa has joined in with some SSP and some EEP breeding, which includes the idea that you shouldn't take animals from the wild but as a community of zoos should be able to sustain the captive population.
 
Blackduiker

Elly said:
?? South Africa is only an hour driving from Congo ?? African zoos can rob the wildlife blind because they are located in Africa ??

As far as I know the national zoo of South Africa has joined in with some SSP and some EEP breeding, which includes the idea that you shouldn't take animals from the wild but as a community of zoos should be able to sustain the captive population.
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That's all well-and-good but there is a great need of new gene pools for many of the captive stock. For example, the highly endangered Mountain Tapir. The few zoo specimans existing today are all descendants of the first successfull breeding pair from Los Angeles, back in 1977, and all owned by that institution. I believe that same need for new stock also applies to the Okapi. Especially now, when Okapi are included in the great demand for bushmeat from the Congo in surrounding African nations.
 
Let me clear a few points:

1. Okapi are not from West Africa, but Central Africa.
2. The captive Okapi population in the US is very well off genetically despite loosing almost 10% of the captive population last year due to various reasons. Fortunately the majority of those okapi that died were lower ranked. The okapi population today is descendant of 25 founders, 2 of which are still alive and regularly producing calves.
 
Hey Okapikpr, when i was in Dallas they had around 7-8 Okapi's , are they still breeding them? how many do they have now?
(my visit was during summer of 2006)
 
okapikpr said:
Let me clear a few points:

1. Okapi are not from West Africa, but Central Africa.
2. The captive Okapi population in the US is very well off genetically despite loosing almost 10% of the captive population last year due to various reasons. Fortunately the majority of those okapi that died were lower ranked. The okapi population today is descendant of 25 founders, 2 of which are still alive and regularly producing calves.
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Thanks for that update.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Does anyone else find it ironic that the national zoo of South Africa had to import their African okapis from San Diego (USA)? Bronx Zoo is the only exhibit I've seen that actually looks like an okapi's forest home. San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are both basically fields - although they do have a couple trees (with fences around the trunks!), they do not even come close to representing the dense forests of west Africa.
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San Diego Zoo's Okapi exhibit is not a field. almost 90% of the exhibit is always under shade from the trees above.
 
Dallas welcomed Anne on November 28 (same day as an Arabian Oryx). She and mother, Manala, are doing fine. I got to see Anne about a week after she was born!
 
brookfield zoo's young female okapi Sauda recently died but Seimliki is the mother of a new male calf
 
MARK said:
WOW, Looks like you guys in the US may end up being over run with Okapi's ;)
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They could always send some more over here (UK) ;)

Also very interesting read about Zuri, okapikpr do you know if this method is being tried on any other okapi's?

I know bristol tried a similar thing with a male calf (Mbuti) and it was not succesful at all.
 
Also very interesting read about Zuri, okapikpr do you know if this method is being tried on any other okapi's?
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Yes it is....conditioning techniques all vary based on the temperment of the calf itself. Most calves are often easiest to condition during the first two months of their lives while they are in the "nesting" phase...but there are always exceptions to the rules.
 
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