Okapis — the only living relative of the giraffe — are rarely kept in zoos but have very specific welfare needs as rainforest specialists sensitive to temperature, humidity, and social disturbance.
Okapi welfare in captivity requires exceptional attention to stress management because of the species's extraordinary sensitivity. Okapis can die from capture myopathy — a condition caused by extreme stress during handling in which muscle tissue breaks down catastrophically. This sensitivity means that any veterinary procedure or enclosure change carries serious risk and requires expert management. Social management is also critical: okapis are solitary animals that find the proximity of other okapis stressful except during brief mating encounters. Temperature and humidity must mirror their rainforest habitat; exposure to cool, dry conditions causes health decline. The small global population of zoo okapis is managed as a single population with careful genetic record-keeping. Conservation breeding for potential future reintroduction is a key justification for maintaining this challenging species in captivity.