Okapi

Okapi, 2019
Yulia Shtern, Endangered/Extinct/Enslaved Series
6 x 6 1/2 x 4“
upcycled materials, glue, varnish
260

Okapi, also know as the forest giraffe, are one of the oldest mammals on Earth. They are native to Central Africa, and can only be found in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They live in dense vegetation at altitudes of about 1000 meters. They are the only living relative of the giraffe. Just like the giraffe, they have long, dark tongues, and the males have short, fur-covered, horn-like ossicones on their foreheads. Okapi are secretive, solitary animals living in overlapping home territories. The mothers communicate with their calves in infrasonic calls that cannot be heard by a human ear. Okapi are herbivores, and are only active during daytime. Their lifespan in captivity can reach 30 years, however their lifespan in the wild is unknown.
Conservation status: endangered. Threats to existence: deforestation, mining, poaching.