Okapia johnstoni visible again in the Virunga National Park

Some of the okapi (Okapia johnstoni) looks back at the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The environmental activists from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) successful track record 17 rare animal tails that are similar to the giraffe.



Some of the okapi (Okapia johnstoni) looks back at the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The environmental activists from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) successful track record 17 rare animal tails that are similar to the giraffe.

"We may be tracking well, recording his impressions, his dirt, and signs that indicate where the animals are," said Peter Stepehenson from the WWF. Animals that live in the forests of Central Africa is last seen in 1959.

"However, we only found 17 different impressions okapi. This shows there are only a few chickens in there - we can not be sure how many there are. For us, the most important evidence that they have in there," said Stephenson.

War and hunting

Life in the wild forests of the Congo civil war because it threatened. Many wild species have decreased drastically because of excessive hunting.

Okapi habitat in the eastern Congo are in the areas of conflict that lasted for many years. The environmental activists in the Congo has been trying hard to maintain forests that are the living okapi.

Okapi recovery after a general election in the country of Africa has become a positive signal. This indicates that sustainable development to protect the forest and local communities terbayarkan already.

Okapi usually grow to as long as 2.5 meters and 2 meters high. Although the lines have a black and white on the legs, such as zebra, okapi closer relationship with its giraffe.

Previously, only animals are suspected of remaining in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the eastern Congo. Some tails okapi also kept in a zoo.