The Okapi Conservation Project will begin to reorganize as we deal with the destruction of our infrastructure and the loss of ambassador okapi, which were so important to our mission and educational programs of the project. Yes, I would like to receive emails from Okapi Conservation Project. Your donations fund the resources and partnerships critical to making real, sustainable impact. Our first priority is to restock the clinic and food stores and to help ICCN and OCP staff rebuild their personal lives. Based on the findings of the workshop, the okapi were officially classified ‘Endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species — up sharply from its original Red List classification of ‘Near Threatened’. … It was later discovered they are the only living relatives of the giraffe. Learn more about the mysterious okapi and its richly complex habitat – and stay up to date on the progress we're making. Although the okapi has striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is most closely related to the giraffe. The okapi’s closest living relative is the giraffe. The okapi is entirely dependent on the forest sanctuary for its survival, and deforestation, along with poaching and mining, have led to its precipitous and perilous decline. Take a moment to get to know them and learn about their accomplishments. Okapi Conservation Project supports and works with the ICCN to ensure the availability of resources for rapid response to threats to the integrity of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Okapi Conservation Project works closely with the communities around the reserve and the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) to implement its programs. OCP Provides 100,000 Face Shields for Healthcare Workers. The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) was founded by John Lukas in 1987 to work to protect the okapi and its habitat through partnerships with other private organizations and the government of DRC. The okapi’s main natural predator is the leopard. Okapi Conservation Center Recovering after Militia Attack that Killed 6 People and 14 Animals By John R. Platt on August 14, 2012 6 On Sunday, … Their incredible hearing is imperative for tracking predators and listening for low frequency calls from other okapi that are undetectable to leopards and humans. The Okapi Conservation Project. OCP, along with its partners around the Reserve and a generous donation from LTA Research and Exploration were able to provide 100,000 thousand face shields for the front line healthcare workers around the … They can go up to 60 days before defecating, as to not warn predators with their scent. Forgot account? Okapi are a diurnal species, feeding in the mornings and evenings. Currently headed by John Lukas, the Okapi Conservation Project assists and sustains the work of ICCN to protect, secure and manage most of the affairs of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. See more of Okapi Conservation Project on Facebook. Okapi Conservation Project | 284 followers on LinkedIn. ), dark blue prehensile tongues that help them strip leaves from plants and groom themselves. The OCP assists with coordinating wildlife patrols to remove snares, arrest poachers and close illegal gold … Related Pages. to the people living next to the reserve. To the Democratic Republic of Congo, to which it is uniquely endemic, it is a national and cultural symbol, and has been protected since 1933. Due to their elusive nature, the okapi population is difficult to measure. The Congo Civil War threatened both the wildlife and the conservation workers in the Reserve. Not only do camera traps collect footage of animals, they also employ some of the local community. Okapi Conservation Project is devoted to protecting the okapi and preserving its habitat. Okapi were originally thought to be relatives of the zebra, due to their striped coat. OCP's founder John Lukas i 10 Okapi Facts. White Oak Conservation. Okapi are typically solitary, only found together when mating or in a mother/calf pair. Okapi Conservation Project works with ICCN and communities throughout the Okapi Wildlife Reserve — a 13,700-sq-km swathe of the Ituri Forest in northeastern DRC — to ensure the protection of the okapi and many other species in this equatorial rainforest. Get to know this enigmatic creature and how the Okapi Conservation Project works in the DRC and around the world to, https://www.the-okapi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WomensGroup.png, http://www.the-okapi.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/okapi-logo-horizontal-2-transparent-site1.png, https://www.the-okapi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/9b42a693-f4ef-40fc-935b-7eb40935da75.jpg, Celebrating International Women’s Day 2021, https://www.the-okapi.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/WhatsApp-Image-2020-11-14-at-3.51.56-AM.jpeg, OCP Provides 100,000 Face Shields for Healthcare Workers. The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) works in and around the Okapi Wildlife Reserve to support the work of ICCN and improve the condition of local people whilst reducing damage to the environment. An Okapi Conservation Strategy Workshop (2013) found that the population had plummeted over 50% in just three generations (about 15 years). Diet. OCP, along with its partners around the Reserve and a generous donation from LTA Research and Exploration were able to provide 100,000 thousand face shields for the front line healthcare workers around the Ituri and Haute-Uélé provinces. Just like giraffes, okapi must splay their legs in order to reach water. Rarely do okapi produce more than one offspring, but twin okapi calves have been recorded. International Rhino Foundation. Okapi eat toxic leaves, fruits, and fungi. Key to this are conservation initiatives that benefit the livelihoods and environment of the okapi’s human cohabitants. The OCP has about one hundred staff members and one hundred and ten government rangers under the direction of the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature. Shy and elusive as it is serene and gentle, with remarkable natural defenses against predation (not least of which, its extraordinary markings), the okapi is nearly impossible to observe in the wild. Shy and usually solitary, the okapi is nearly impossible to … Okapi Conservation The okapi was reclassified as Endangered in 2013 by the IUCN Red List (previously classified as Near Threatened), meaning their population has decreased, with a population estimate of 35,000 – 50,000. Established in 1987, the OCP works within the RFO to protect the tropical forest habitat of the okapi, as well as the culture of the local indigenous people, the Mbuti pygmies. On International Women's Day, we celebrate the opening of the our new Women's Center in Epulu, while we work to raise funds for the women of the Reserve. Okapi’s large ears can move independently of one another, so they can stay alert from all angles. From head to tail the okapi measures 1.9 to 2.5m (6.2 to 8.2ft). They have long (up to 18in/46cm! The okapi is … Get to know this enigmatic creature and how the Okapi Conservation Project works in the DRC and around the world to promote its survival. November 22, 2020. This project provides support for training and equipping wildlife guards and lends community assistance (clean water, medical services, school supplies, etc.) Okapi derives from the name given to it by the Lese tribes local to the area of its discovery. © 2014 Okapi Conservation Project and Wildlife Conservation Global. The okapi — Okapia johnstoni; the “forest giraffe”; one of the oldest mammals left on Earth — is known to the western world only since the early 20th century. Okapi Conservation Project (OCP), Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Okapi Conservation Project has been working to protect the okapi and its habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for 25 years. The tail comprises 30 to 42cm (11.8-16.5in) of this length. The Okapi Conservation Project is partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Network. The Okapi Conservation Project works with the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature to provide resources to rangers who patrol the reserve and other okapi-occupied areas. The Okapi Conservation Project is located within the Ituri Forest, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Okapi Conservation Project was founded in 1987 for the protection of the okapis and their habitat. The main threats to the okapi are habitat loss, hunting, deforestation and civil unrest in their native Congo. The okapi has a weight range of between 200 and 350kg (440 to 770lb). Protecting the Animals, Plants and People of the Ituri Forest. or. Okapi Wildlife Reserve was created by the Okapi Conservation Project in collaboration with the government of Congo. They called it. Calves identify and follow their mother using her stripes. Okapis are only found in one country: the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Not Now. Throughout DRC’s turmoil, the Okapi Conservation Project has remained the primary supporter of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and protector of okapi. To protect this shy, giraffe-like animal, wildlife conservationist John Lukas founded the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) in 1987. Okapi live in the dense rainforest of the DRC, characterized by high precipitation and little light due to the dense tree canopy. The Okapi Conservation Project has been working to protect the okapi and its habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for 25 years. The group was instrumental in establishing the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a 13,700-square-kilometer tract of wilderness in the Ituri Forest of northeastern DRC. Healthcare and housing for ICCN personnel and their families, in addition to equipment, supplies, facilities and infrastructure are supported by OCP and its partners. A typical okapi will stand 1.5-2m (4.9-6.5ft) high. Create New Account. The okapi’s long neck enables it to reach food in tall trees and bushes. Established in 1987, the Okapi Conservation Project primarily works for bringing the population of Okapis to a stable number and also helping the indigenous Mbuti people that live around their habitat to experience growth and prosperity. The Zoo supports the efforts of the Okapi Conservation Project, a dedicated community of individuals working in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve inside the Ituri Forest.Established in 1992 and listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996, the Reserve is 1.5 times the area of Yellowstone National Park. The project focusses on three issues: wildlife protection, community assistance and conservation education. It is estimated that 3-4,000 Okapi live on the OWR, with their total population being between 10-15,000. A MOST CURIOUS ANIMAL, A CULTURAL SYMBOL, A SPECIES ON THE BRINK | The mission of the Okapi Conservation Project is to conserve the okapi … OCP today manages the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a 13,700-square-kilometer (5,290-square-miles) area of wilderness, occupying one-fifth of the Ituri Forest. Nonprofit Organization. The OCP relies heavily on zoos around the globe to educate the international public about this unique, captivating creature and the importance of its rainforest habitat. The Okapi Conservation Project was established in DR Congo in June of 1987 when the country was still known as Zaire. IUCN Okapi Conservation and Status Review. In an effort to ensure that the okapi does not become a victim of economic recovery, the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) is working to protect the okapi and its habitat. A sexually dimorphic species- females are typically larger than males by around 100 pounds, while males have ossicones (small horns covered in skin and fur). Help ensure the future of this beautiful endangered species with a donation, and learn what your money goes towards. Calves will stay in one place on a “nest” for the first six to nine weeks of their life. They’re a Pixar protagonist in the making. The okapi, also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe, or zebra giraffe, is an artiodactyl mammal that is endemic to the northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. Through our agroforestry program that promotes sustainable farming practices while reducing dependence on forest resources, Okapi Conservation Project helps roll back negative long-term impact on the complex and delicate Reserve ecosystem. Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) Conservation Strategy and Status Review Edited by Noëlle F. Kümpela,b , Alex Quinn b, Elise Queslina,b, Sophie Grange , David Mallona and Jean-Joseph Mapilangaa,c with contributions from the participants of the IUCN SSC GOSG / ICCN / ZSL workshop on okapi status and conservation Okapi’s existence is under grave threat from the impact of human activities. Spread the Word! The OCP’s work on the ground includes: OCP supports rangers that patrol the forest - arresting poachers and shutting down illegal logging and mining operations in the Reserve. These women are working hard for the betterment of their community and okapi conservation. Females are generally slightly larger than males. Recently, OCP managed to capture the first known footage of a wild okapi feeding in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, just a few short miles from Epulu, the village where OCP is stationed. The Okapi Conservation Project was initiated in 1987 to secure a protected area for okapi in the wild, while preserving the biological and cultural dynamics of the Ituri Forest. The okapi stands about 1.5 m tall at the shoulder and has a typical body length around 2.5 m. Its weight ranges from 200 t Female okapi have relatively small territories, up to .8 square kilometers (.5 miles), while males will patrol up to 4 square kilometers (2.5 miles). The Association of … Okapi Conservation Project works with ICCN and communities throughout the Okapi Wildlife Reserve — a 13,700-sq-km swathe of the Ituri Forest in northeastern DRC — to ensure the protection of the okapi and many other species in this equatorial rainforest. Okapi have scent glands on each foot leaves a sticky tar-like residue wherever they walk to mark their territory. The okapi and the giraffe are the only living members of the family Giraffidae. Cause. Much like our own fingerprints, each okapi has a unique stripe pattern. The Okapi Conservation Project was set up to protect the okapi. We support the management of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, help local communities find sustainable ways of living, and provide an extensive refuge for the region’s endangered creatures. Conservation work in the Congo includes the continuing study of okapi behaviour and life styles, which led to the creation in 1992 of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. Log In. Charity Organization. Follow, share, and spread the word about wildlife and ecological conservation. Okapis are found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are seen as the major flagship species of the Ituri Forest. Giraffe Conservation Foundation. They consume charcoal and clay which acts as a detoxifier and provides them with needed minerals. Their striped coat allows them to blend in with the light shafts produced by the canopy; and their oily, velvety fur repels water. © 2014 Okapi Conservation Project and Wildlife Conservation Global. Turmoil, the okapi and preserving its habitat of zebras, it is that. 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