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Rare Wild Okapi Caught On Camera For First Time


It may not be Bigfoot, but a rare and elusive animal never before photographed in the wild has finally been caught on camera.

The okapi, an endangered animal that lives in Congo’s eastern rain forests, has not even been seen in its natural habit for a full 50 years. The last spotting was in 1958, leading to the animal’s reputation as the “unicorn” of the rain forest.

Today, though, the Zoological Society of London announced it had worked with the Congo Institute for Nature Conservation to set up unmanned cameras deep in the forests and had captured images of the okapi roaming around. Scientists say they’ve identified at least three unique animals and will continue looking for more. As of now, they’re not sure how many are still around, though most guesses put the number at around 200. Years of war in Congo combined with poaching have killed off many of the native species. Conservationists fear they could be extinct within a matter of two or three years.

The Okapi is most closely related to the giraffe.

(Images courtesy Zoological Society of London)










Comments


6 Archived Responses to “ Rare Wild Okapi Caught On Camera For First Time ”

  1. Please don’t mention anything about this animal to Sarah Palin .She is a HUNTER

  2. GKIJdhvksd
    Oct 15, 2008

    First! on a page no one cares about! what the fuck is that thing? half zebra half deer, most closely related to the giraffe?

  3. Or you could just goto a zoo to see them:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi

  4. Theohunter
    Oct 31, 2008

    @Theo So am I. Run BITCH!

  5. This animal is very rare. Its almost extinct. Glad tos ee picture and signs that its still out there in woods. But for how long…