Zoo Okapi Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Meeting the complex welfare needs of okapis in zoological institutions and supporting wild population conservation.

Key Facts

Okapis are the only living relatives of giraffes and are classified as endangered in the wild
Okapis are solitary, forest-dwelling animals with a large natural home range
They are highly sensitive to stress and have specific dietary requirements including varied browse
Okapis are cryptic by nature and require exhibit design that allows retreat from public view
Breeding programmes have maintained a self-sustaining captive population of around 100 animals
Their range in the Democratic Republic of Congo faces ongoing threats from deforestation and conflict

Welfare Considerations

Okapis present significant welfare challenges in captivity because of their solitary, secretive nature and sensitivity to stress. Unlike more social ungulates, okapis do not benefit from group housing and require spacious enclosures that allow genuine retreat from stimuli including visitors and keepers. Their browse-based diet requires extensive provision of appropriate plant material. The relatively small captive population means that genetic and demographic management is tightly constrained, requiring careful consideration of welfare implications of transfers and introductions. Zoos holding okapis carry significant conservation responsibility for a genuinely endangered species.

What You Can Do

Support zoos that participate in the Okapi SSP breeding programme and maintain high welfare standards
Advocate for exhibit designs that provide genuine retreat areas and appropriate dietary provision for okapis
Support the Okapi Conservation Project and similar organizations working on in situ conservation
Raise awareness of okapis as an endangered species beyond their role as a zoological curiosity
Engage with conservation donors about the link between zoo welfare standards and breeding programme success