Okapi

One of our most unusual looking animals is the okapi. This rare species is related to the giraffe, but also looks a bit like a zebra. There are three okapis here at Bristol Zoo – Lodja, Rubani and their shy calf, Luani, who was born in 2009. You can see them in their stables near Zona Brazil, or out in their grassy paddock.

All three okapis have a brown and white striped rump with a deep reddish brown velvety coat on their body. There are just 13 okapis captive in the UK so the birth of Lodja and Rubani’s first calf was a huge boost to the captive breeding programme.

Click here for more information on okapi.