Denver – Today the Denver Zoo reported the birth of a baby okapi, born under a specialized survival plan used to manage captive populations of rare species. Only 76 okapis live in zoos in America, and it’s not known how many exist in the wild, according to the zoo’s public relations manager, Tiffany Barnhart.
The baby was born on June 17th, to mother Iosi and father Shani. Right now the baby is bonding with her mother, but she will be on exhibit within a few weeks.
This baby is only the third born of its kind in the history of the Denver Zoo.
The okapi is a relative of the giraffe, and has a 12-inch, purple, prehensile tongue and white stripes on a chocolate coat.
The species is secretive, said Barnhart in a statement, and was first discovered less than 100 years ago in Zaire, a country which is now called the Central African Republic.
Very little is known about the okapi’s behavior in the wild because of its shy, elusive nature.
The calf was born as part of a Species Survival Plan, a cooperative management and conservation program for select species in zoos and aquariums in North America.
The plan is designed to maintain a health and self-sustaining captive population that is genetically diverse.
The baby will grow to between 400 and 500 pounds, standing about five feet tall at the shoulder. Females generally are larger than males.
