The okapi (Okapia johnstoni), a rarely glimpsed relative of the giraffe was recently caught on camera trap in Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The okapi, although a next of kin of the giraffe, prefers dense rainforest, and it has a more vulnerable range than the giraffe. Deforestation, poaching for bushmeat, and war threaten the okapi’s habitat.

Historically, the okapi has been somewhat of a mythical animal, and it was often referred to as the African unicorn. Today, little is known of the okapi due to its secretive behavior, and the lush habitat it prefers makes observation difficult. For conservation reasons, it is important to know as much as possible about an animal such as the okapi, because it may well be a critically endangered species. Images © ZSL. From the Zoological Society of London:

Thierry Lusenge, a key member of ZSL’s DRC survey team, added: ‘The photographs clearly show the stripes on their rear, which act like unique fingerprints. We have already identified three individuals, and further survey work will enable us to estimate population numbers and distribution in and around the Park, which is a critical first step in targeting conservation efforts.’

The exact status of this secretive species is unknown as access to the forests of DRC is limited by civil conflict and poor infrastructure, making survey work difficult. Okapi are only known to inhabit three protected areas, of which Virunga National Park is one.

However even Virunga’s newly-discovered and still largely unknown population is under threat from poaching. Okapi meat, reportedly from the Park, is now regularly on sale in the nearby town of Beni. The ZSL survey team has warned that if hunting continues at this rate, okapi could become extinct in the Park within a few years.

More camera trap images of the okapi can be found here. Donate to the okapi project here.

On the Net: WWF – Camera Traps