The Sacramento Zoo just made history with the birth of its first ever okapi, a rare zebra striped relative of the giraffe. The event marks a major win for conservation efforts and adds a bright spot to Sacramento’s news this month.
The okapi calf was born to its mother, Kivuli, earlier this October. Zoo officials said both mom and baby are healthy and doing well. The okapi, sometimes called the “forest giraffe,” is native to the rainforests of the Congo in Central Africa. This species is considered endangered, with fewer than 10,000 estimated left in the wild.
For the Sacramento Zoo, which is nearly 100 years old, this is the first okapi birth in its entire history. Zookeepers say the birth is the result of years of careful planning and coordination with other zoos around the world to help protect the species. Once the calf grows stronger, it will be introduced to the public, giving people a chance to learn more about okapis and the importance of protecting them…