To protect this shy, giraffe-like animal, wildlife conservationist John Lukas founded the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) in 1987. It was later discovered they are the only living relatives of the giraffe. The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) was founded by John Lukas in 1987 to work to protect the okapi and its habitat through partnerships with other private organizations and the government of DRC. Help ensure the future of this beautiful endangered species with a donation, and learn what your money goes towards. The Okapi Conservation Project. Create New Account. Okapi Conservation Project supports and works with the ICCN to ensure the availability of resources for rapid response to threats to the integrity of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. or. They called it. Okapi’s existence is under grave threat from the impact of human activities. Okapi Conservation Project | 284 followers on LinkedIn. The group was instrumental in establishing the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a 13,700-square-kilometer tract of wilderness in the Ituri Forest of northeastern DRC. OCP today manages the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a 13,700-square-kilometer (5,290-square-miles) area of wilderness, occupying one-fifth of the Ituri Forest. Recently, OCP managed to capture the first known footage of a wild okapi feeding in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, just a few short miles from Epulu, the village where OCP is stationed. The Okapi Conservation Project is partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Network. Established in 1987, the OCP works within the RFO to protect the tropical forest habitat of the okapi, as well as the culture of the local indigenous people, the Mbuti pygmies. The Okapi Conservation Project was established in DR Congo in June of 1987 when the country was still known as Zaire. The Zoo supports the efforts of the Okapi Conservation Project, a dedicated community of individuals working in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve inside the Ituri Forest.Established in 1992 and listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996, the Reserve is 1.5 times the area of Yellowstone National Park. OCP, along with its partners around the Reserve and a generous donation from LTA Research and Exploration were able to provide 100,000 thousand face shields for the front line healthcare workers around the … Okapis are found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are seen as the major flagship species of the Ituri Forest. Take a moment to get to know them and learn about their accomplishments. The okapi stands about 1.5 m tall at the shoulder and has a typical body length around 2.5 m. Its weight ranges from 200 t From head to tail the okapi measures 1.9 to 2.5m (6.2 to 8.2ft). Protecting the Animals, Plants and People of the Ituri Forest. Follow, share, and spread the word about wildlife and ecological conservation. Learn more about the mysterious okapi and its richly complex habitat – and stay up to date on the progress we're making. OCP supports rangers that patrol the forest - arresting poachers and shutting down illegal logging and mining operations in the Reserve. Calves identify and follow their mother using her stripes. Our first priority is to restock the clinic and food stores and to help ICCN and OCP staff rebuild their personal lives. IUCN Okapi Conservation and Status Review. They have long (up to 18in/46cm! Healthcare and housing for ICCN personnel and their families, in addition to equipment, supplies, facilities and infrastructure are supported by OCP and its partners. The okapi is … Okapi Conservation Project works with ICCN and communities throughout the Okapi Wildlife Reserve — a 13,700-sq-km swathe of the Ituri Forest in northeastern DRC — to ensure the protection of the okapi and many other species in this equatorial rainforest. Much like our own fingerprints, each okapi has a unique stripe pattern. November 22, 2020. White Oak Conservation. Okapi derives from the name given to it by the Lese tribes local to the area of its discovery. ), dark blue prehensile tongues that help them strip leaves from plants and groom themselves. This project provides support for training and equipping wildlife guards and lends community assistance (clean water, medical services, school supplies, etc.) OCP Provides 100,000 Face Shields for Healthcare Workers. The Okapi Conservation Project has been working to protect the okapi and its habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for 25 years. to the people living next to the reserve. In an effort to ensure that the okapi does not become a victim of economic recovery, the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) is working to protect the okapi and its habitat. The main threats to the okapi are habitat loss, hunting, deforestation and civil unrest in their native Congo. Okapi were originally thought to be relatives of the zebra, due to their striped coat. Female okapi have relatively small territories, up to .8 square kilometers (.5 miles), while males will patrol up to 4 square kilometers (2.5 miles). The Congo Civil War threatened both the wildlife and the conservation workers in the Reserve. Females are generally slightly larger than males. Key to this are conservation initiatives that benefit the livelihoods and environment of the okapi’s human cohabitants. Your donations fund the resources and partnerships critical to making real, sustainable impact. These women are working hard for the betterment of their community and okapi conservation. The OCP assists with coordinating wildlife patrols to remove snares, arrest poachers and close illegal gold … © 2014 Okapi Conservation Project and Wildlife Conservation Global. It is estimated that 3-4,000 Okapi live on the OWR, with their total population being between 10-15,000. The okapi has a weight range of between 200 and 350kg (440 to 770lb). … The okapi and the giraffe are the only living members of the family Giraffidae. Throughout DRC’s turmoil, the Okapi Conservation Project has remained the primary supporter of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and protector of okapi. OCP, along with its partners around the Reserve and a generous donation from LTA Research and Exploration were able to provide 100,000 thousand face shields for the front line healthcare workers around the Ituri and Haute-Uélé provinces. Their striped coat allows them to blend in with the light shafts produced by the canopy; and their oily, velvety fur repels water. Rarely do okapi produce more than one offspring, but twin okapi calves have been recorded. Shy and usually solitary, the okapi is nearly impossible to … Okapi Wildlife Reserve was created by the Okapi Conservation Project in collaboration with the government of Congo. Okapi Conservation The okapi was reclassified as Endangered in 2013 by the IUCN Red List (previously classified as Near Threatened), meaning their population has decreased, with a population estimate of 35,000 – 50,000. Okapi live in the dense rainforest of the DRC, characterized by high precipitation and little light due to the dense tree canopy. Related Pages. Okapi eat toxic leaves, fruits, and fungi. On International Women's Day, we celebrate the opening of the our new Women's Center in Epulu, while we work to raise funds for the women of the Reserve. Okapi Conservation Project works with ICCN and communities throughout the Okapi Wildlife Reserve — a 13,700-sq-km swathe of the Ituri Forest in northeastern DRC — to ensure the protection of the okapi and many other species in this equatorial rainforest. The OCP has about one hundred staff members and one hundred and ten government rangers under the direction of the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature. Not only do camera traps collect footage of animals, they also employ some of the local community. Although the okapi has striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is most closely related to the giraffe. Okapi are typically solitary, only found together when mating or in a mother/calf pair. Their incredible hearing is imperative for tracking predators and listening for low frequency calls from other okapi that are undetectable to leopards and humans. The Okapi Conservation Project works closely with the communities around the reserve and the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) to implement its programs. Not Now. International Rhino Foundation. Log In. Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) Conservation Strategy and Status Review Edited by Noëlle F. Kümpela,b , Alex Quinn b, Elise Queslina,b, Sophie Grange , David Mallona and Jean-Joseph Mapilangaa,c with contributions from the participants of the IUCN SSC GOSG / ICCN / ZSL workshop on okapi status and conservation The Okapi Conservation Project was initiated in 1987 to secure a protected area for okapi in the wild, while preserving the biological and cultural dynamics of the Ituri Forest. The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) works in and around the Okapi Wildlife Reserve to support the work of ICCN and improve the condition of local people whilst reducing damage to the environment. In order to reach food in tall trees and bushes their accomplishments establishing. 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