Okapis are the only living relative of the giraffe and are endemic to the Ituri rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their secretive nature and specialised forest ecology create significant welfare challenges in zoo settings.
Okapi welfare in captivity is closely linked to their need for tranquility, dietary diversity, and control over social interactions. As naturally solitary, cryptic animals from dense forest, okapis placed in open, high-traffic exhibit areas without adequate visual cover and retreat options experience chronic stress. Their sensitivity to novel stimuli means that poor visitor management — crowds, loud noises, flash photography — can cause sustained fear responses that suppress feeding, reproduction, and immune function. Dietary welfare is a practical challenge: providing adequate browse variety requires significant horticultural infrastructure, and poor browse quality or inadequate quantity leads to nutritional deficits. Okapis that cannot choose to move away from social contact — whether from other okapis or keepers — show stress indicators including reduced activity and elevated cortisol. Positive reinforcement training for voluntary veterinary procedures (blood draws, health checks) significantly reduces handling stress and improves overall welfare.