Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

March 16, 2010 - Jacksonville, Fl -

After a few years of planning, a year of waiting and month of quarantine, for the first time in its history, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has okapi on exhibit, which can be viewed from the African boardwalk. Kisangani, a 20-year-old female, came from the White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Florida, and Kimacho, a nine-year-old male, came from the Houston Zoo.  These additions to the animal collection take the Jacksonville Zoo to a new level among zoos nationwide. 

“All Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ 21 okapi holders must have appropriate facilities and demonstrate a commitment to okapi conservation,” said Delfi Messinger, director of animal programs for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “Their numbers in the wild are precarious, so we want to help protect them.”

Discovered in 1901, the okapi is a most unusual yet beautiful animal.  Although at first glance they look like they might be in the zebra family, they are in fact the only living relative of the giraffe.  But the okapi’s head is the only part of this animal that resembles a giraffe.  It has a long nose and a tongue that’s 14 to 18” in length—long enough to lick their eyelids. They are 6 to 7 feet in height and weigh approximately 500 to 700 pounds.  Their chocolate-brown coat feels like velvet to the touch, while the white stripes on their hindquarters and front legs, provide excellent camouflage in the tropical rainforests of the Congo region of Africa. Their average life span in the wild is unknown, but in captivity it is 20 to 30 years. 

The acquisition is also an important milestone in the Zoo’s conservation efforts.  The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ascribes habitat loss as a major threat to the continued survival of okapi in their natural environment.  This loss is brought about by the clearing of the forests for agriculture and infrastructure development for human settlements, as well as hunting.  Through a partnership with White Oak Conservation Center, Jacksonville Zoo now has the opportunity to contribute to the Okapi Breeding and Research Station, near the village of Epulu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Here, the conservation partners work with the Congolese Institution for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) to provide a reservoir for new genetic stock into the captive okapi population as well as creating alternative strategies for economic development to the local community.

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment. Starting in 1914, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 1,400 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  For more information on the Zoo, log on to jacksonvillezoo.org. 

PHOTO IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

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