Okapis in the Wild

Okapi distribution map

Geographic Range in Africa:

Okapis are found only in the tropical forests of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the African continent.They prefer altitudes between 500 and 1,000 m, although they may venture above 1,000 m in the eastern rainforests. One sighting occurred at 1,450 m on Mt. Hoyo, in the upper Ituri Rainforest. The range of the okapi is limited by high forests to the east, swamp forests below 500 m to the west, savannas of the Sahel/Soudan to the north, and open woodlands to the south. Okapis are most common in the Wamba and Epulu areas (Bodmer 1992).

The most recent sighting of an okapi in the wild was in September 2008. This is more than 50 years since any previous sighting. Camera traps set by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in the Virunga National Park captured rare pictures of wild okapi. The sightings prove the species is surviving in the jungle despite years of civil conflict. Their abundance in the park is unknown as access to the forests of DRC is limited by civil conflict and poor infrastructure, making survey work difficult.

References
Bodmer, R.E., and G.B. Rabb. 1992. Okapia johnstoni. Mamm. Species, 422:1-8