A new born female Okapi calf and her mother are coaxed into their enclosure by animal care staff Art Gonzales at the Los Angeles Zoo on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. The zoo has put on display the baby okapi, a reclusive species that in the wild is found deep in the now-vanishing dense rainforests of central Africa. The calf born was born Nov. 10, 2017. Nicknamed the "rainforest giraffe," okapis are the closest living relative of giraffes but do not grow that tall. They have black-and-white striped patterns on their front and hind legs and their coats are velvety and oily. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
The Los Angeles Zoo has put on display a baby okapi (oh-KAH-pee), a reclusive species that in the wild is found deep in the now-vanishing dense rainforests of central Africa.
The calf born Nov. 10 is the first female okapi produced at the zoo and the second offspring of its mother, 14-year-old Opey.
The mother and father, 3-year-old Jackson, were paired under a species survival plan by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to increase the okapi population. The numbers of okapis in the wild has declined to between 10,000 and 50,000.
Nicknamed the "rainforest giraffe," okapis are the closest living relative of giraffes but do not grow that tall. They also have zebra-like black-and-white striped patterns on their front and hind legs. Their thick coats are velvety and oily.
A baby female Okapi calf is offered a snack by an animal care staff in her enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. The zoo has put on display the baby okapi, a reclusive species that in the wild is found deep in the now-vanishing dense rainforests of central Africa. The calf born was born Nov. 10, 2017. Nicknamed the "rainforest giraffe," okapis are the closest living relative of giraffes but do not grow that tall. They have black-and-white striped patterns on their front and hind legs and their coats are velvety and oily. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Citation:
Los Angeles Zoo puts baby okapi on display (2018, January 23)
retrieved 19 April 2024
from https://phys.org/news/2018-01-los-angeles-zoo-baby-okapi.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
![Los Angeles Zoo puts baby okapi on display](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2018/losangeleszo.jpg "A new born female Okapi calf and her mother are coaxed into their enclosure by animal care staff Art Gonzales at the Los Angeles Zoo on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. The zoo has put on display the baby okapi, a reclusive species that in the wild is found deep in the now-vanishing dense rainforests of central Africa. The calf born was born Nov. 10, 2017. Nicknamed the "rainforest giraffe," okapis are the closest living relative of giraffes but do not grow that tall. They have black-and-white striped patterns on their front and hind legs and their coats are velvety and oily. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)")
![Los Angeles Zoo puts baby okapi on display](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2018/1-losangeleszo.jpg "A baby female Okapi calf is offered a snack by an animal care staff in her enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. The zoo has put on display the baby okapi, a reclusive species that in the wild is found deep in the now-vanishing dense rainforests of central Africa. The calf born was born Nov. 10, 2017. Nicknamed the "rainforest giraffe," okapis are the closest living relative of giraffes but do not grow that tall. They have black-and-white striped patterns on their front and hind legs and their coats are velvety and oily. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)")
