Okapis are the only living relatives of giraffes, found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri Forest. Zoo welfare for this shy, secretive species requires low-stress management, appropriate browse diets, and careful social housing.
Okapi welfare in captivity is substantially shaped by their extreme sensitivity to disturbance. As a cryptic forest species that relies on stillness and camouflage, sudden movement, noise, and unfamiliar people cause significant stress responses. Keeper consistency and gradual habituation to routine are essential — abrupt routine changes cause measurable physiological stress. Browse must be provided in large variety: okapis strip leaves from over 100 plant species in the wild, and dietary monotony in captivity causes both nutritional deficiency and behavioural frustration. Enclosures should provide visual barriers, retreating areas, and substrate that allows the scent-marking behaviour important to okapi communication. Social housing is possible for mated pairs but solitary housing with olfactory access to conspecifics is also appropriate given their naturally solitary nature. The Okapi Conservation Project works with AZA-affiliated zoos — participating institutions contribute to both captive welfare and field conservation in the DRC.