Birth of an Okapi at Marwell
After the birth of two giraffes within a month, keepers at Marwell Zoological Park are delighted with their latest new arrival - the closest known relative to the giraffe – an okapi!
Following a pregnancy which lasts over a year, a healthy female okapi calf was born on Monday 2nd June 2008. Marwell keepers have named her Hazina which means valuable treasure in Swahili, the language spoken in the Okapi native homerange in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Although closely resembling a zebra (as they have stripes on their hind quarters and upper forelegs), okapi are in fact the closest known relative to the giraffe. They are an elusive species which live in the tropical rainforests in the Congo, and were only first discovered to science by Sir Harry Johnston, the British explorer and naturalist in 1901.
No-one knows for sure how many are left in the wild as the harsh rainforest conditions, plus the current political situation in the country makes tracking this species very difficult. Despite official protection, okapi are still hunted and combined with increased deforestation (to provide agricultural areas to feed an increasing human population) of their natural habitat, their future is uncertain.
Hazina will hopefully become an important addition to the captive okapi conservation breeding programme, of which there are less than 100 individuals in Europe. Okapi are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity so every birth is very special.
Marwell Head Keeper, Simon Hawker said: “We are all ecstatic that after such a long pregnancy Hazina and mum are both strong and healthy, and have already formed a strong bond. We are delighted that our latest baby is a female although every healthy okapi calf is a great addition to the captive population, helping to secure the future of this rare and mysterious species.”
Log onto Marwell Zoological Park’s website to watch Hazina being born and follow her progress in Marwell’s new online diary: www.marwell.org.uk
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