Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

• Okapis breed readily in managed care, but rearing of calves has been historically problematic.
  • Until the 1950s, roughly 50% died during the 1st month
• Antwerp Zoo was the first zoo to exhibit the okapi to visitors (1919)
  • First okapi to survive in managed care also at Antwerp Zoo in 1928; she lived 15 more years.
• A male okapi named Congo came to the Bronx Zoo in 1937 and lived for 15 years.
• Common in many large zoos; currently being bred to maintain numbers; difficult to keep because of delicate health
• Managed care okapi population in North American zoos has 25 founders; in Europe there are 23 founders.
• Baruiti was born at the San Diego Zoological Park in 1962.

Learn how the San Diego Zoo's mammal keepers use behavior training to keep okapis healthy.

© San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

An okapi calf in its indoor stable stall at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Gijzen & Smet (1974)
Species360 (formerly ISIS)