Giraffe - The Facts

What are the closest relatives of the giraffe?

The only close relative of the giraffe is the Okapi.



The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) has a similar body shape to that of the giraffe but the neck is relatively very much shorter. Interestingly, only the male okapi has horns.

The rare okapi, listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened, is endemic to the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The primary strongholds of Okapi include the Ituri/Aruwimi and adjacent Nepoko basin forests, and the forests of the upper Lindi, Maiko and Tshopo Basins; the species is also well known in the Rubi-Tele region in Bas Uele.

The population is estimated to comprise of10,000-35,000 animals, with numbers stable in the large protected areas.

Living in dark, dense tropical forest, the okapi has relatively poor vision but sharp hearing and a good sense of smell. It is extremely wary and will disappear into thick cover at the first hint of danger. Probably for this reason it was only discovered in 1901.

It has been nicknamed the 'rainforest zebra' because of the black and white stripes on its buttocks and upper legs. The stripes on the rump probably act as a 'follow me' signal and allow a young okapi to keep track of its mother.

The okapi shares distinctive features with the giraffe including unusual fur covered horns (males only), specialized teeth and tongue, and a ruminating four chambered stomach.