Okapi Research Paper

Plants and thick vegetation lie around. It is daytime and this species is roaming around looking for food and standing alone. This was the same routine everyday. Day in and day out. This unique creature is a mammal that is related to the tallest animal on Earth. It can be found on the hottest continent in the world. This animal was not discovered until the early 20th century. This is due to how solitary and elusive it is. This unique creature is called the okapi. The okapi otherwise known as the “African Unicorn” or “Forest Zebra” is a fascinating animal for many reasons.
The okapi was discovered in 1901 by the British explorer Sir Harry Johnston. “Johnston was the high commissioner of Uganda, and he wanted to add a new member to the roster of mammals” (Slack). To add a new mammal to the roster is a big accomplishment for a naturalist. Johnston was able to get pieces of the okapi’s skin from the native tribe Pygmies. The skins were sent to the British Museum. Scientists in London announced the new species. This was not the end of Johnston’s discovery. He wanted a complete specimen of
The okapi has red-brown fur with white stripes on its legs. Its Genus is called Okapia. A genus is a name that classifies a family or species of animals. The okapi’s scientific name is called Okapia Johnstoni. The name okapi comes from the Lese Karo word O’api, and Johnstoni comes from Sir Harry Johnston’s last name. Okapis have white ankles with a dark spot with very thick skin that protects them from injury. “Okapis have a life expectancy of 25-30 years in captivity. Data from wild populations is unavailable” (Newman). They can weigh up to 440 – 770 lbs. Okapis also have big ears. This makes them sensitive to sounds. Males have horns but females do not. Instead, females have bumps or hair whorls. They stand about four to five feet at shoulder length. Their body length is 8ft. On their mouths, okapis have a dark