OKAPI derives our name from the elusive Okapi antelope which lies deep in the Ituri Rainforest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is not found anywhere else in the world! A cousin of the enigmatic Giraffe, an Okapi is about the size of a horse. They have large ears that can move independently of one another, so they can stay alert from all angles and have distinctive stripe patterns on their backsides. These unique patterns serve much of the same purpose as our fingerprints. So much so that calves identify and follow their mothers using her stripes! Okapi are known for being shy, usually solitary, and nearly impossible to observe in the wild. As a result, the Okapi was not discovered until the 1900s and have obtained almost mythical status, becoming known as the ‘African Unicorn’. Due to their elusive nature, researchers can only estimate how many Okapi there are in the wild however it is believed that there are currently about 10,000-15,000. In their family life, Okapi mothers produce infrasonic calls to communicate with their calves, which is useful in dense forests and cannot be heard by humans. This is a useful way for a mother to check in on her baby while she’s out foraging without alerting potential predators of the fact that her baby is vulnerable.