THE BRONX, New York (WABC) — Before the doors open at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo, animal keeper Alyssa May begins the day by making sure everything is ready for the zoo’s two resident okapi.
The pair includes Dakota, a 9-year-old female who weighs about 200 pounds more than her older male barn mate.
“Usually, they are really shy and elusive. That’s one reason why scientists didn’t even know they existed until about 1901,” May said.
The Bronx Zoo invited Eyewitness News behind the scenes as staff prepared breakfast for the animals and readied their outdoor enclosure for the day. The work included bringing in fresh food, setting up feeding areas and cleaning the habitat.
Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson noted the animals’ appearance. Though often compared to zebras because of their striped markings, okapi are a different species.
Zoo officials said the endangered animals are found in the wild only in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The biggest threats to the species include poaching, habitat loss and civil unrest. Staff said the best estimate is that only a few thousand remain in the wild.
The Bronx Zoo team said it is committed to helping protect the species.
“We’re very instrumental from a policy standpoint, from a field conservation standpoint and from advocacy here at the zoo,” said Keith Lovett, head of animal programs.
According to zoo officials, efforts involving Congo have helped lead to an agreement by countries around the world to ban the trade of okapi.
The zoo also hopes the pair will eventually mate, though for now they appear more interested in grooming each other. Once outside, they are free to roam their habitat, where visitors may only catch occasional glimpses of them.
Visitors who look closely at an okapi’s face may notice a resemblance to another animal. Zoo staff said the okapi’s only living relative is the giraffe.
The animals receive additional feedings throughout the day, and zoo staff said the graceful-looking creatures are stronger than many people realize.
For keepers at the Bronx Zoo, it is part of a daily routine centered on caring for and helping conserve one of the world’s rarest animals.
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