Saving Okapi | Lost Giants of the African Jungle with Lucas Meers

May 28, 2021  11:00 - 11:45

(GMT -5:00) Eastern Time

Event URL:  https://www.exploringbytheseat.com/lesson/saving-okapi-lost-giants-african-jungle-lucas-meers/
Hosted by: Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants

The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) works to protect the endangered and enigmatic okapi in the dense rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Working holistically with local people, OCP has programs that address the needs of surrounding communities that encourage a sustainable way of living that benefits both humans, okapi and other animals that call the rainforest home. Often mistaken as a relative of the zebra, the okapi's closest relative is actually the giraffe, and even though it had been know by the local people and indigenous tribes for millenia, it was only recently described by Western scientists in 1901. The okapi lives in a region often known for political instability, rebel groups, and tribal wars, but the efforts to conserve this species must persist by finding and encouraging a balance of needs for all people involved, both people and animals alike.