Birth of Baby Okapi at San Diego Zoo, USA
Endangered 'Legendary Animal' with Only 5,000 Left
A unique creature that looks like a mix between a giraffe and a zebra, the "legendary animal" Okapi was born at the San Diego Zoo in the United States. The Okapi is an endangered species with only about 5,000 individuals surviving worldwide.
California's San Diego Safari announced on the 8th (local time) that the Okapi was safely born. The baby Okapi does not have a name yet. Although the baby was born recently, it is reported to be healthy enough to bask in the sun and run around in the grass.
The baby Okapi was born to a pair of Okapis living at the zoo. A zoo official explained, "The mother, 'Meli,' is very attentive. She lets the baby rest, holds it when needed, and nurses it several times a day."
The baby Okapi is expected to appear before visitors around mid-month. The zoo has an "Okapi Habitat" designed to resemble the African environment, and the baby Okapi is currently resting there.
Meanwhile, the Okapi belongs to the giraffe family and the genus Okapia. Its legs have zebra-like stripes, and it has giraffe-like horns on its head. Although it belongs to the giraffe family, it is famous for its unique appearance that looks like a combination of several animals.
Its main habitat is the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. It only lives at high altitudes between 500 and 1500 meters above sea level, and among local indigenous tribes, it has long been revered as a "legendary animal."
However, today, the Okapi is an endangered species with only about 5,000 individuals left worldwide. Its population has steadily declined due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting. For this reason, many zoos, including those in the United States, are attempting to breed and raise Okapis. The baby Okapi born at the San Diego Zoo is part of these efforts. This is to preserve the species itself even if wild Okapis living in the Congo disappear completely.
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