Okapi

I was reading about how the Arab world was transitioning from its nomad heritage by switching from camel power to modern industrial transportation. Camels have been a part of Middle Eastern culture for centuries and are being relegated from the standard beasts of burden to racing stock or food source. Isn’t progress great?

I started reflecting on my zoo experiences. We were at the Lansing Zoo and my son got spat on by a llama. It was slimy and smelly and made a big impression on him that when we say back away from the animal, it is for a reason. Now the llama is a relative of the camel although they are from different continents. The highlight of my zoo experiences was at the Cincinnati Zoo. I finally got to see an animal that to me was as fabled as the unicorn; the okapi.


The okapi is the only living relative of the giraffe family. They were reported to the outside world around 1901 and were the last large mammal to be “discovered.” They are found in the Ituri Forest of the Republic of Congo.


It is the only mammal that can clean its ear with its tongue. Not exactly a trait I would be looking for but helpful if you have an ear wax craving. They are not currently endangered but because of their remote location, there is no accurate assessment of their population. I think they look a zebra and a miniature giraffe had a little tryst but they are simply a giraffe that is designed for jungle existence.


Icool

Cobb