Okapi Welfare in Zoos | Animal Welfare Hub

Okapi are rare forest-dwelling relatives of giraffes. Their welfare in captivity requires specific attention to diet, space and social needs.

Key Facts

Okapi are solitary in the wild, living in dense tropical forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo
They are endangered with an estimated 25,000 remaining in the wild
Okapi are browsers that require varied browse in their diet, not grass-based feeds
They are sensitive to stress and less tolerant of intensive handling than many other hoofstock
Space requirements include areas where animals can be out of sight of each other
The Okapi Conservation Project coordinates ex-situ breeding with in-situ conservation in DRC
Okapi have been in managed breeding programmes since the 1980s with reasonable success

Welfare Considerations

Okapi welfare in captivity is supported by their inclusion in a coordinated breeding programme that gives each individual animal conservation value. However, their specific dietary, space and social needs mean welfare outcomes vary significantly between facilities. Browse provision quality, ability to retreat from view and appropriate social grouping are the key welfare determinants.

What You Can Do

Support the Okapi Conservation Project to protect wild populations in DRC
Visit zoos participating in coordinated okapi breeding programmes with strong welfare standards
Learn about okapi to counter misconceptions about this little-known species
Support tropical forest conservation in Central Africa to protect wild okapi habitat