Okapis are mysterious forest-dwelling relatives of giraffes that require specific care in captivity and are threatened by civil unrest in their Congo Basin habitat.
Okapis are highly sensitive to stress and don't adapt readily to captive environments. Their solitary nature means social contact, even for reproduction, creates tension requiring careful introduction management. Okapi calves hide instinctively, and maternal separation for veterinary examination causes significant stress to both calf and dam. Transport between facilities for genetic management is particularly stressful for this shy species. In the wild, okapis in the Ituri Forest face threats from civil conflict that affects both wildlife and the human communities living alongside them, creating complex welfare challenges that cannot be separated from human welfare concerns.