the Okapi extremely late is one first known-become big-mammal-manner. It remained undetected long time since it leads a hidden way of life in a badly accessible area. The Africa-researcher Henry Stanley took along the first tidings of this animal for 1890 from the Congo-jungle, and only 1901, the new type was recognized as a relative of the giraffe.
Physique The withers-height amounts by 160 cm, its weight for 225 kg. Compared with the giraffe, the Okapi is built penetrated with essentially shorter neck and only wise falling back-line. Only the males carry fur-coated horns on the forehead-legs. The legs are black-and-white cross-striped, the remaining body is colored predominantly dark-bay.
Habitat The Okapi lives in Regenurwälder with undergrowth and secondary-forests, particularly in river-proximity in Africa's Herz.
Way of life Okapis wander individually or in pairs through an extended residential-area, with what it decided, changes pause and solid silence and excrement-places visit. they are active predominantly at night. The eyes be sehtüchtig, hearing and sense of smell well developed also at weak light.
The leopard is the main-enemy of the forest-giraffes.
Reproduction The combination can the whole year over takes place. The males carry, like which among each other the giraffes, neck-fights from. Brünstige females visit the precinct of a stallion. In the combination-prelude, the male one and the female animal circle about each other. The male with high-stretched head impresses on that occasion. A female is only few days in heat. After the combination, the partners separate. The Tragzeit lasts 426-457 days.
The young is set aside. The dam defends its young. After observations in captivity, Okapimütter adopt foreign boy occasionally.
Food Touch Okapis foliage of trees and shrubs with its long gripping-tongue. they eat also herbs, fruits and grass. Even the poisonous wolf-milk-plants form a part of its food. Furthermore, Okapis pick up charcoal and saline earth.
Continuance Over the continuance of the Okapis, nothing exact is known, however it is regarded as rare.
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