This entire section of the zoo (okapi, mandrill, red river hog, gorilla, etc) is absolutely superb and well worth the extra $3 that is tacked on a regular admission.
I wouldnt say its the world's best, but a close second! Work is well done on the artificial kapok tree, just like the pictures from Epulu! But needs more foilage within the actual okapi area. Snowleopard, what would you say the length of the exhibit was?
It's difficult to estimate the size of the exhibit, and even where it begins and ends! The sightlines are at times cleverly hidden, and without a doubt it is more than likely smaller than it appears. Even from the photo it is evident that hotwire abounds along the boundaries, and the paddock winds around to the right of the photo and overall is probably 30-40 meters long.
So what is the best Okapi exhibit IYO? DAC's? The Bronx exhibit is about 8000 square feet, and the okapis basically ate everything not protected by hotwires. But it is built within a mature forest, and the giant buttress root tree, liana tangles and hidden moats create a fantastic "Ituri" viewing experience. Occasionally one can see colobus monkeys in the canopy behind the exhibit, seemingly uncontained, adding to the overall view. Unfortunately the forest guinea fowl flock that originally shared the exhibit with the okapis are no longer there.....
Mine, the average size of the pens are 20,000 sq ft and built within a longleaf pine forest/swamp. The pens grow so thick that I usually have to mow and trim at least once a year.
@reduakari: what happened to the flock of forest guinea fowl? Too much noise for the skittish okapi? The Rotterdam Zoo appears to also have an impressive okapi exhibit, but I still think that the Bronx Zoo's is the #1 that I've ever seen.
