The Okapi

Congo-Zaire contains Africa's largest remaining tracts of intact rain forest, making it one of the most important regions for biodiversity conservation. Its Ituri Forest is home to plants and animals native to nowhere else on earth, including the elusive and little-known okapi. In this popularly written book, three long-time observers of the okapi present a complete, contemporary natural history of this appealing relative of the giraffe. They recount its discovery by European explorers, and describe its appearance and life cycle. They also discuss current efforts to preserve the species, both in the wild and at zoos around the world. Illustrated with charming line drawings, The Okapi will be a valuable resource for conservationists and zoo visitors alike-indeed anyone fascinated by the mysterious animal of Congo-Zaire. Susan Lyndaker Lindsey is Executive Director of the Wild Canid Survival and Research Center in St. Louis. Mary Neel Green is a docent and artist specializing in public education at the Dallas Zoo, where Cynthia L. Bennett is Curator of Research.