Glad to see you agree this exhibit is superior to a pine forest in simulating (from a visitor's perspective) an okapi's natural habitat. Not that the White Oak facility has anything to apologize for--best okapi breeding/husbandry center outside of the real Ituri.
@reduakari: after visiting White Oak and seeing more than a dozen okapi I have to admit that the enclosures in Florida are still brilliant but just not the natural setting of this species. A pine forest allows for lots of hiding places as long as the hoofstock can avoid the occasional rattlesnake...haha.
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.....
Unfortunately the deep shade really limited what plants could be grown. In a less forested site, more okapi-resistant species would be possible. I can't see them eating much pine, but the Bronx Zoo would never have considered using such a species in "Africa"
@okapikpr: the Florida okapi yards are brilliant for the okapi and I love those enclosures, and I was only attempting to point out the difference between the pines and whatever huge tree trunks are evident in the Bronx habitat. White Oak is #1 in the world for okapi conservation and the habitats there are larger than just about any other enclosures around the world.
@Cat-Man: I also really like the okapi exhibit at DAK, as it is shady and perfect for a forest species. However, nothing can top the Bronx's immersive enclosure, which honestly looks as if it is a lush, dense forest. It is exhibits like Congo Gorilla Forest that urge zoo visitors to invest in the conservation of the environment, and such enclosures educate the public on the needs of endangered species.
Looking at this photo once again, it is great to see just how well shaded the okapi exhibit truly is. For a shy, elusive jungle creature it is the perfect environment...right in the middle of the madness of the Bronx! Trust me, I stayed at a cheap hotel in the area and it was an experience all on its own.
