The okapi — the only living relative of the giraffe — is a forest-dwelling mammal from the Congo Basin. Zoos play a vital role in okapi conservation, but replicating their complex habitat needs remains challenging.
Okapi welfare in captivity depends on providing adequate space for their natural solitary, browsing lifestyle. They require access to browse — fresh branches and leaves — for both nutrition and psychological enrichment. Exhibit design should allow retreat from public view, as okapis are shy and can become chronically stressed by close human observation. Males must be managed carefully around females, as mating attempts can be aggressive. Hoofcare is essential — foot rot and overgrown hooves are common in captive okapis on hard substrates. Temperature management matters greatly: originating from equatorial forest, okapis are sensitive to cold. Keepers trained in behavioral observation can detect early signs of illness, which okapis mask as prey animals.