Okapi

An okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a large mammal native to the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa. It is a relative of the giraffe and is known for its striking appearance, which includes zebra-like stripes on its legs and a long, dark tongue.

The okapi has a reddish-brown body with horizontal, black-and-white stripes on its hindquarters and legs, which gives it a resemblance to a zebra. However, it is a member of the Giraffidae family, making it the giraffe's closest living relative. It has a long neck, a pair of horns in males, and a prehensile tongue that can be up to 18 inches long.

Okapis live in the dense, tropical rainforests of the Ituri Forest in the Congo. They are solitary and shy animals, making them difficult to spot in the wild. They are herbivores, and their diet consists of leaves, buds, fruits, and fungi, which they strip from branches with their long tongues.

The okapi is an endangered species. Its population is threatened by habitat loss due to deforestation, as well as by poaching. Due to its secretive nature and limited range, it was not known to the Western world until the early 20th century.