Article on okapi breeding in zoos and status in the wild

Yes, but that would involve going into the DRC. I would, but I like staying alive too much right now.
 
Yes, but that would involve going into the DRC. I would, but I like staying alive too much right now.

Yes, becoming an okapi researcher is probably best left until DRC gets its act together so it may take a couple more decades. Hopefully there will still be some okapis left. They've already survived quite a lot.
 
Are they really better off than giraffes? I thought there were far more giraffes in the wild than there were okapis.

It is possible that there are actually several species rather than subspecies of giraffes. Based on genetics data it appears that the Masai, reticulated, Rothschild's, Angolan, Southern (Cape), and West African giraffes are reproductively isolated from each other.

There are approximately 200 West African giraffes left, making them about as endangered as Sumatran rhinos.

There are approximately 3000-5000 reticulated giraffes left, making them about as endangered as tigers. There are about 700 Rothschild's giraffes left.

The Central African giraffes may also be reproductively isolated. They are very endangered also with numbers in the hundreds or a couple thousands at most.

If there are 10,000 okapis then this is more than reticulated, Rothshchild's, West African, and Central African giraffes combined.
 
Back
Top