The beautiful and endangered okapi is shy, secretive, and elusive. They are found in the dense tropical rainforests of central Africa, and their reddish coat and zebra-like stripes help them disappear quickly in dense foliage. They are the closest living relative to giraffes. The L.A. Zoo is home to two okapi named Jackson and Opey. Jackson is curious and enjoys snacking on butternut squash. Opey is known for her gentle demeanor, and has had two calves over the years at the Zoo. While discovered

With a tongue that can extend up to 18 inches (45 cm), the okapi uses this remarkable adaptation to skillfully strip leaves, buds, and fruit from the understory trees of the Congo Basin. Their diet, rich in over 100 plant species, helps shape the forest’s biodiversity—an unsung but vital ecological role. Often mistaken as relatives of zebras due to their stripes, okapis are actually the only living relative of the giraffe. Yet unlike their towering cousins, these secretive animals are found sole