Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) Fact Sheet: Diet & Feeding

Highly selective feeder on leaves, fruits, seeds, ferns, fungi of some 100 plant species.

• Prefer to browse in small forest openings where fallen trees allow growth of light-dependent plants; prefer fast-growing tree seedlings, shrubs and vines
• Okapi plants are only a temporary resource, scattered widely across the forests; most plants are not acceptable forage
• Do not choose shade-tolerant shrubs and select only a small proportion of all the plants available.

• Like giraffes, okapis use long, prehensile tongue to pull leaves off branches; a slender muzzle and flexible lips also help with choosing the "right" plants.
• Also ingest clay for its minerals, burnt charcoal, and bat guano found in hollow trees.
• Digestive system similar to other browsing ruminants.
• As in giraffes, gall bladder not present.
• Daily food intake (dry matter) of okapi in managed care ranges from 4.3-5.0 kg

Okapis have a dark blue tongue for reaching leaves high in the trees.

They selectively feed on fast-growing, light-dependent plants.

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

Bodmer & Gubista (1988)
Bodmer & Rabb (1992)
Crissey et al. (2001)
Hart (1992)
Hart & Hart (1988)