It serves as the flagship species (a popular species that has become a symbol for the conservation of a region) for the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic Breeding. It was once found in the country of Uganda, but it is believed to be extinct there. Humans too pose threat to the okapis. It avoids,however, old leaves that are covered with “epiphylls”, or mosses and algae. Trees play a necessary role in a leopard’s feeding practices. It is estimated that there are about 25,000 Okapis in the wild. What do they eat? They become sexually mature at around 2 to 3 years of age. As a result, the okapis can easily be bred in captivity which explain why your best opportunity of seeing an okapi is by going to the zoo! The Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is an ungulate native to Africa. Breeding. The okapi’s main natural predator is the leopard. However, okapi do enjoy fruits and berries; probably because of their sweet or sour taste. These browsers subsist on a varied diet that includes the seeds, fruits, and leaves of more than 100 different types of plants, and the occasional fungi. Size. The okapi is lucky compared to what other species have to put up with. herd, corps, tower, group . Okapis have a life expectancy of about 25-30 years in captivity. Once caught, leopards will break their prey’s neck, and then suffocate it. The Okapi is a herbivorous animal meaning that it survives on a diet that is only comprised of plant matter. Male okapis have horns on their foreheads. These mammals are generally found at an altitude varying between 500 and 1,000 meters. Along with consuming a vast variety of plant material, the Okapi is also known to eat a reddish clay that provides essential salt and minerals to its plant-based diet. Okapis weigh approximately 460 - 650 lbs. The okapis black and white striped hind quarters provide camouflage in the filtered light of its rainforest habitat. With beautiful golden coats speckled with black rosettes, these fierce predators prowl the African continent in search of their next meal. It looks like a short-necked giraffe with a dark-brown coat and white zebra-like stripes on the legs and rump. Research of the animal’s feces has determined that they will feed on over 100 different species of plants. Okapi are known to eat the leaves of over one hundred plant species. Diet: Okapis feed on more than 100 species of plants, including some that are poisonous to humans. An okapi eats only leaves. Okapi are active during the day meaning that the okapi is diurnal.The okapi spend their waking hours foraging for food. The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a Central African herbivore that lives in the dense rain forests of the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo -- formerly Zaire. What do okapis eat? The Okapi has a large snout for a greater sense of smell to help it find food or sense smells of predators or other hazardous things. Although the okapi eats new leaves, its diet is mainly of fully mature leaves. They live only on plant matters like leaves, twigs, shoots, berries, fruits etc. The calves or the baby okapis “bleat” to their mothers, while some even make mild “moo” noises. However, okapis are known to tolerate other individuals and can spend a short period of time feeding in groups. Diet. Okapi, also known as the Forest Giraffe or Zebra Giraffe, are African herbivores with close resemblance to both the zebra and the giraffe. An okapi stands about 5 feet tall. Which fact abut okapis is true? When were okapis first discovered? It serves as the flagship species (a popular species that has become a symbol for the conservation of a region) for the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic In the present day, almost one-fifth of this rainforest is made up of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, which has been declared as a World Heritage Site. It will occasionally eat bat excrement for nutrients. Newborns can stand within 30 minutes and will start to nurse within an hour. :) Do Bengal tigers eat okapis? what okapis eat Photo: Okapi Conservation Project. Okapis use their prehensile tongues to strip leaves and tender shoots from branches. Okapis are herbivores, and do not eat … By evolution, the okapi feeds on an incredible variety of plants, for which reason, their stomach is very hardy and adapted to digest many hard-to-eat foods like the vermilion wax cap mushroom. Since retiring from the news business in 2008, Kirchhoff takes care of a 12-acre rural Michigan lakefront property and applies his experience to his vegetable and flower gardens and home repair and renovation projects. The simple answer to the question “ What Do Lions Eat ” is that they eat flesh and meat.In order to get meat they hunt other animals. Weight: An Okapi can weigh up to 200 – 350 kg (440 – 770 lbs). Okapis eat tree leaves and buds, grass, ferns, fruit, and fungi. A majority of the Okapi population is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Giraffidae are ruminants, and share a common ancestor with deer and bovids. Empower Her. Behavior and reproduction Weaning takes about a year and the calf may stay with its mother for another two years. The okapis are not fussy eaters and can eat a wide variety of plants. Clay from riverbeds is also important to their diet. Amongst the plants they consume, there are even species of poisonous plants which are fatal to other animals and humans. Calves are about 2 1/2 feet tall at birth and weigh around 35 pounds. Leopards usually are high up in trees, looking down for prey. However, the most common natural predator of okapi is the leopard. The biggest threat to the okapi is habitat destruction as humans clear the rain forest for timber and agriculture. They use their 14-inch-long, blue-black prehensile tongues to strip leaves from understory shrubs and brush. Secretive and elusive, the leopard is one of the fastest, strongest climbers of all the large cats. Examination of okapi feces has revealed that the charcoal from trees burnt by lightning is consumed as well. Okapis have huge ears, and rely on excellent hearing in their heavily forested home, where their main predator is the leopard. Your email address will not be published. The Okapi will even eat fungi on occasion and is known to eat more than 100 different types of plant, many of which are poisonous to other animals and Humans. Okapis give birth to a single calf after a 14 month gestation period. Okapi are browsing folivores, meaning they feed on foliage. © 2020 WILD SKY MEDIA. They’ll also nibble at clay and charcoal to obtain minerals. Both okapi genders can approximately reach a weight between 440 lbs to 770 lbs. Required fields are marked *. When they drink water, they spread their legs and bend down their necks. Okapis are herbivorous animals related to giraffes. All rights reserved. These animals even eat fungi occasionally. The males tend to mark larger territories than the females. What They Eat. Where do okapis live? Although, the okapi does have to put up with the leopard. cleaning their ears and eyes 3. Okapis live in high altitudes of up to 1000 meters. Lifestyle. They communicate using quiet "chuff" noises and in the forest they strongly rely on their hearing, as they do not have good eyesight. How did the okapi, which stands over 5 feet tall and can weigh between … They are mostly found in captivity, and many of those places include the San Diego Zoo, Disney Animal Kingdom, and the White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida. Color: Okapis carry colors red, brown, black and white on their body. Okapis live a solitary life, and come together only during mating. As we listen to Noah give expert answers based on his years of experience with okapi, we eat an abstract “okapi salad.” Enjoy! Terrestrial, Precocial, Cursorial, Migratory. Hunting Practices. As well as the plants that the okapi eat, they also eat a reddish clay that provides essential salt and minerals to the plant based diet of the okapi.Okapi are generally not sociable animals and okapi do not seek companionship. Okapis are forest animals, found in both dry and rain forest in tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. Okapis have long purple tongues. They are unique in the Ituri Forest as they are the only known mammal that feeds solely on understory vegetation, where they use their 18-inch tongues to selectively browse for suitable plants. What do okapis eat? However, the aim of an okapi marking its territory is mainly to limit their own areas for resting and sleeping. Okapis are herbivorous animals, and their diet includes more than 100 species of plants. Okapis have remarkable natural defences against predation, with leopards and humans being their main predators. The ankles are white and have dark spot above each hoof. A male okapi can travel more than two miles a day, feeding and scent-marking its territory to warn off other males. The okapis are rare in the wild with about 10,000 – 35,000 remaining. Sometimes okapi choose to eat fungi. The okapi (/ oʊ ˈ k ɑː p iː /; Okapia johnstoni), also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe, or zebra giraffe, is an artiodactyl mammal native to the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. The simple answer to the question “ What Do Lions Eat ” is that they eat flesh and meat.In order to get meat they hunt other animals. The Okapi was not discovered by the Western world until the end of 19th century. Being shy helps it to flee quickly if it is attacked unexpectedly. Shape The World. Amongst the plants they consume, there are even species of poisonous plants which are fatal to other animals and humans. The only place in the world that you can find a wild okapi is in the dense tropical rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The okapi baby is weaned usually at 10-12 months. The baby okapi looks identical in color pattern to the parent. Leopards are the only natural predator of adult okapi, but the African golden cat will take calves. These animals even eat fungi occasionally. The Okapi is a very shy animal due to the fact that it is hunted. They also eat ferns, fungi, fruit, and grasses. Part of the okapia johnstoni diet is mainly leaves, shoots, and twigs. This wild okapi, Bahati, feeding in the Ituri Forest, is one of the okapi that we radio-collared in the late 1980s. With its white-and-black striped hindquarters and front legs, it looks like it must be related to zebras! As the IUCN has last estimated that, there were just between 10,000 and 35,000 individuals left in the wild, the okapis have been categorized under category ‘Endangered’ (IUCN 3.1). The gestation period lasts 14-15 months. What do Okapis Eat? Okapis eat only plants. The tongue is also used to groom their ears and eyes. For the first two months, okapi calves spend most of their time hidden away in vegetation, with the mother visiting only to feed her offspring. rainforest leopard 4. Okapis are herbivores so their diet mainly includes eating leaves, grass, fruits and fungi. Carbon in … Okapis eat tree leaves and buds, grass, ferns, fruit, and fungi. Physical Features: Okapis have long neck as compared to the body. Okapis are hunted for food and for their skins. They also live in packs because some of the females help feed the other babies when the other mother has to go eat. Diet. The most prominent reason for the endangerment of the okapis is the destruction of the tropical rainforests in Africa. The species was only described to the Western world in 1901, making it one of the last large animals known to science. An okapi consumes between 45 and 60 pounds of food each day, including riverbed clay for minerals and salt. They eat leaves and fruits from more than 100 kinds of rain forest plants, so there’s always food available. The leopard is one of the largest felines on Earth and is known to have incredible stealth and smarts. Though Okapis are thought to be found abundantly in their native region, but they have severely been threatened by habitat loss mostly through deforestation. Males- The animal has a long and thin tongue of bluish color. Okapis are gentle creatures and extremely shy and timid by nature. They also eat berries, fruits and fungi. Lion is an apex predator which means that it hunts most of the animals that are found in its habitat. Estimates of the wild okapi population range from 10,000 to 35,000 animals. Males have short horns covered with hair, like those of the giraffe. Okapis live in the clearings and forest areas of the rainforest that are not dense with foliage. Answer. An okapi can eat over 60 pounds of plants in one day! What is the okapi's main predator? Your email address will not be published. Okapis eat shoots, buds, grass, fruit, fungi and leaves. The frontal reddish brown color of the okapi helps it to blend itself with the red mud. They live only on plant matters like leaves, twigs, shoots, berries, fruits etc. This makes it the king of the jungle. These solitary, mainly nocturnal hunters like to ambush their prey, pouncing before it has a chance to react. The okapi’s biggest threat is from humans spreading out into their habitat. Comments. Shelter & Weather. What do okapis eat. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. To obtain the minerals they need okapis ingest clay found near rivers in their habitat and charcoal from trees burnt by lightning. Therefore, there is an opinion that this is why okapi eat coal obtained from burned forest trees. 'Okapia johnstoni' The Okapi has large ears for enhanced hearing to detect incoming predators for survival. Since the okapis are hard of vision, their long, protruding ears of the okapi has made the animal extremely sensitive to sounds, so as to help them track their predators or any impending danger. What do okapis’ coats feel like? 1 hr 4 min; DEC 11, 2018; Episode 7: Killer Whales Episode 7: Killer Whales. Be Her Village. The okapi is the only living biological relative of the giraffe. Habitat. Okapis are only found in one country: the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lower level of the tropical forest is shady and leaves of the shrubs and lianas that make up the okapi diet are thinly distributed and slow-growing. After mating, the male and the female part their ways. An okapi can eat between 45 and 60 lbs. Both genders can reach a maximum length to about 8 ft. Similar to Giraffes, Okapis use their long tongue to clean their ears. Okapi are browsers, not grazers, so no, they do not graze on grass.Okapi are herbivores, or plant eaters. 1. They rely heavily upon their sharp sense of hearing, since they are not able to see very far at all in the forest. A leopard is even capable of killing prey much larger than itself. Carbon in the form of charcoal, is a good antidote. Finally, the male okapi asserts its dominance by tossing its head while extending its neck, and by thrusting one leg forward. Tongue: One of the most striking features is the tongue, which is very long and black in color. Okapi are browsing folivores, meaning they feed on foliage. Many of which are known to be poisonous to humans. The Okapi lives in Packs so that the predator is less likely to kill many of them. Okapi eat almost everything the rain forest can supply. Country of origin: The northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa.Habitat: Dense Rainforest. The okapi is classified Endangered by the IUCN. They also eat a variety of ferns, buds, etc. An okapi can eat between 45 and 60 lbs. Both are in the Giraffidae … They also eat a reddish clay that provides essential salt and minerals. However, data from wild populations is unavailable. Tapirs are herbivores, which means they eat vegetation, such as leaves and fruit. They are giraffid artiodactyl mammals, first described in the late 19th century to western zoologists by Sir Harry Johnston, a British explorer, and are one of the two living members of the Giraffidae family, the other member being the giraffe. Okapis: The okapi ( Okapia johnstoni ) is also known as the forest giraffe or sometime the ghost of the jungle. They also eat a variety of ferns, buds, etc. The okapi’s long neck enables it to reach food in tall trees and bushes. Okapi are herbivores, which means they eat only vegetation. Size and Weight. a a. Are Okapis Endangered? They are herbivores, using their long tongues to browse for suitable leaves, buds, fruit and other vegetation. Habitat: The okapi lives in tropical lowland forest near water. Leopards usually are high up in trees, looking down for prey. Okapis are herbivores – they eat leaves, shoots, mushrooms and fruit foraged from the forest trees. Two male okapis use their necks to fight with each other during territorial disputes, or as competition during mating with the female. Skin: They have a very thick skin covered with fur of velvet coat, covered with oily body hair, which can repel water. Grass is one of the foods they eat. Reproduction. A female may travel more than a half-mile a day in search of food, mostly along paths used by generations of okapi. Okapi are the only living relative of the giraffe. Thanks, Sonia . Threats to Okapis. They also live in packs because some of the females help feed the other babies when the other mother has to go eat. Though adaptable to many climates and elevations, leopards do have a preference for trees wherever they live. The okapi (pronounced oh-COP-ee) is a beautiful and unusual animal. It is available in both Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon 2. In addition, they eat grass, fruits, ferns and mushrooms. They are diurnal beings. Habitat destruction has been the greatest threat to okapis. Another feature of the Okapi are its teeth. Okapis are THREATENED by habitat loss, poaching and illegal occupation of protected areas. Along with consuming a vast variety of plant material, the Okapi is also known to eat a reddis… An okapi uses its tongue to strip leaves from branches in the shady understory. Okapi's prefer to live in an area that is 500-1,000 meters long. They are territorial by nature. Geographic range: Okapis are restricted to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although they aren't as tall as giraffes, they have a similar head structure, ears and tongue. Okapis are mainly found in central Africa. © 2020 (Animal Spot). Okapis also eat a particular type of reddish clay, which provide them essential minerals and salts. Okapi are browsers, not grazers, so no, they do not graze on grass.Okapi are herbivores, or plant eaters. Okapis' diet consists of a variety of over 100 different kinds of leaves and occasionally fruits, grasses, and ferns. They also live in packs because some of the females help feed the other babies when the other mother has to go eat. The amazing tongue is about 14 inches long! The leopard is one of the largest felines on Earth and is known to have incredible stealth and smarts. Okapi live up to 30 years in captivity. Okapi, (Okapia johnstoni), cud-chewing hoofed mammal that is placed along with the giraffe in the family Giraffidae (order Artiodactyla). Because okapis feed on different types of plants, hence, its long tongue helps it reach those breeds of plants whose branches hang higher above. The gestation period is about 15 months, and there normally is only one calf. How do you bond with an okapi? 10 Okapi Facts. The okapi was first discovered by the western world by ZSL fellow, Sir Harry Johnston, in 1901 but what else do we know about this extraordinary and shy creature? (20 and 27 kg) of vegetation each day, according to the Rainforest Alliance. It begets one baby at a time, but seldom twins. Okapi are active during the day meaning that the okapi is diurnal.The okapi spend their waking hours foraging for food. Asked by Wiki User. Okapi have large ears to catch every sound that might mean danger. Logging, farming and human settlements are changing the land, making it more difficult for individuals to find each other and in the Twabinga-Mundo region, local people consider okapi to be the most prized bushmeat. They live only on plant matters like leaves, twigs, shoots, berries, fruits etc. Okapis are ruminants and eat a variety of food. okapis sometimes eat charcoal. The okapis are not fussy eaters and can eat … These plants are not endogenous to Congo and comprise the fungi, leaves, roots, twigs and fruits. A male okapi would normally mark their territory by urine or rubbing their necks onto trees. The okapi is lucky compared to what other species have to put up with. The specific name ‘johnstoni’, however, was given in honor of the then British Governor of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston. Although, the mother spends time moving around with the okapi baby. Diet and Nutrition. Sometimes Okapis also eat a brown clay or charcoal to supplement their diets with minerals. The Giraffe is the only living relative of Okapis although they resemble the body structure and coat of a Zebra. Group name. Soon after, the male mounts the female and ends in copulation. This makes it the king of the jungle. They do not seek companionship, although they may feed together in small groups for a short period of time. Okapis are herbivorous animals, and their diet includes more than 100 species of plants. They typically eat 40 to 60 pounds of leaves a day. Females lack horns. Okapis are herbivores, feeding on tree leaves and buds, grasses, ferns, fruits, and fungi. Okapi have a low reproductive rate. Okapis are very shy-natured, secretive animals native to the Ituri Rainforest of Central Africa at the north-eastern regions of the Congo. Okapi are not social animals. Many of the plant species fed upon by the okapi are known to be poisonous to humans. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. There are no subspecies or classification of the okapi. The Okapi lives in Packs so that the predator is less likely to kill many of them. Where do I live? The okapi is a herbivore. this is an amazing website, helped immensely on my project!!!! Okapis have an impressively long prehensile tongue that is black in color. The head is also long and have a dark muzzle, with big ears set back. Two okapis eat from the forest floor. These animals even eat fungi occasionally. Many of the plant species fed upon by the okapi are poisonous to humans. They also eat the clay-like dirt found by streams or rivers--this dirt is an excellent source if minerals. Leopards attack both the adult and the young okapis, although, the latter are more vulnerable. They also eat the clay-like dirt found by streams or rivers--this dirt is an excellent source if minerals. They are generally found roaming around the forest independently. Okapi feed mainly on leaves, buds, and shoots from more than 100 different species of forest plants. However, the baby may stay with the mother even for two or three years. They also eat twigs, buds, fungi, fruits and other vegetation that can be found in the rainforest’s understory. Top Answer. Okapi, (Okapia johnstoni), cud-chewing hoofed mammal that is placed along with the giraffe in the family Giraffidae (order Artiodactyla). The serval is also an enemy to these timid herbivores. Usually, the okapis are quiet by nature, but can make sounds. Another threat is illegal hunting for okapi for their skins and their meat, which is considered a delicacy in some quarters. Okapi. The courtship is begun by the partner by sniffing, circling and licking each other. Their color and markings allow them to blend into the background of the rain forest underbrush. The range of these creatures has now got limited by natural barriers, including unsuitable habitats surrounding them, which has trapped these timid animals into the 63,000 km² Ituri Rainforest. They use their flexible, prehensile tongues to pluck leaves from branches and pull them into their mouths. Okapis are herbivores, and do not eat meat. Okapis are herbivorous animals, and their diet includes more than 100 species of plants. Nor do okapis eat any of the non-woody, mainly large-leaved herbs of the forest floor. This is a distinctive characteristic to the family they belong to. They are very wary and secretive. Okapis ingest charcoal from trees burned by lightning. The Okapis prefer areas where there is slow-moving fresh water source. An okapi can eat over 60 pounds of plants in one day! Females are heavier than males, weighing 500 to 770 pounds. Grass is one of the foods they eat. Lion is an apex predator which means that it hunts most of the animals that are found in its habitat. They are solitary animals, living alone except during mating season or when an adult female has a calf. Okapi are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. Adult okapis are big and would make a good meal for a leopard. Females are heavier than males, weighing 500 to 770 pounds. It was once found in the country of Uganda, but it is believed to be extinct there. They would if they lived in the same region. Okapis live in tropical rainforests in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But take a look at an okapi’s head, and you’ll notice a resemblance to giraffes. Okapis browse on a diverse diet of leafy vegetation. What are okapi related to? The Okapi is located in the rainforests of Congo in Africa. They use their long tongues to eat leaves off of tall trees. Besides eating, what do okapis use their long tongues for? Sometimes Okapis also eat a brown clay or charcoal to supplement their diets with minerals. Okapis are native to and are found mainly in the north-eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both are in the Giraffidae family, with girafffes in the Giraffa genus and okapi in the Okapia genus. For this, they have smaller hooves so as to help them climb up to reach to the area of their desired food, as also, to sink their feet in the mud by the rivers and water bodies, where they often visit to consume red mud. Wiki User Answered . Although, the okapi does have to put up with the leopard. PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA | FAMILY & PARENTING, The Physical Characteristics of an Antelope. 4maut. They eat leaves, shoots and twigs that are drawn into their mouths using their long prehensile tongue along with fruits, berries and other plant parts. During daytime, Okapis spend long hours in search of food. http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/hoofed_mammals/okapi.html, http://www.arkive.org/okapi/okapia-johnstoni/, This is a very good website to see and invistigate animals. The hind quarters and the tops of their legs are covered with horizontal stripes of black and white. Generally, the female okapi breeds every two to three years. Since okapis live in secluded rainforests, they have a lesser number of predators. Okapis eat berries, leaves, grass and fungi. They are covered with reddish brown fur. Okapis are herbivores – they eat leaves, shoots, mushrooms and fruit foraged from the forest trees. Herb Kirchhoff has more than three decades of hands-on experience as an avid garden hobbyist and home handyman. Okapis have a diet which consists of over 100 plants. The Okapi will even eat fungi on occasion and is known to eat more than 100 different types of plant, many of which are poisonous to other animals and Humans. Size: On an average, Okapis are 2 – 2.2 m (6.5 – 7.25 ft) in length, and tail being about 30 – 42 cm (12 – 16.5 inches). Okapis are also known as forest giraffes or zebra giraffes - the animal that they are most closely related to. In 1992, the Democratic Republic of the Congo set aside a portion of its Ituri Forest as a preserve for these and other threatened wildlife. They have large ears that help them to detect any disturbances, while the distinguishing brown and white marks on their rump act as camouflage in the forest. By 2 months of age, the calf will have tripled in size and be ready to accompany its mother while she feeds. Many of the plant species fed upon by the okapi are poisonous to humans. Okapis are not gregarious creatures. The majority of their diet is leaves, twigs and shoots. Males weigh 440 to 650 pounds and are slightly shorter than females. The radio station ‘Radio Okapi’ in Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the African knife ‘okapi knife’ has both derived their names from the animal. The okapi population is low. They will grow to be approximately 6 - 8 ft. in length and are about 5 - 6 feet in height. Okapis are mainly found in central Africa. It can reach and grab the higher branches of trees and can pull them down. Okapis eat only plants. An okapi stands about 5 feet tall. What Do Okapis Eat? These creatures communicate with each other by quiet ‘chuff’ sounds, especially when greeting each other and even do the same to their zoo-keepers at times. c a. about 250 years ago b. about 200 years ago c. about 100 years ago d. about 50 years ago 5. Reply. Okapis are herbivorous, meaning that they feed exclusively on plants. Okapi are the only living relative of the giraffe. The clay gives them minerals and salt that they may not be getting from vegetation. They eat an assortment of leaves, grasses, buds, fruits, ferns, twigs, and poisonous fungi, using their tongues to pluck the foliage from the understory brush in a “pruning line.” An okapi will eat between 45 – 60 pounds of foliage a day. They eat an enormous variety of fruits, twigs and leaves, sampling nearly 100 different plants throughout their rainforest home. OKAPIS AREN’T SOCIABLE. A majority of the Okapi population is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The okapi is indeed the only living relative of the giraffe. The okapi’s closest living relative is the giraffe. What Kind of Environment Does a Panda Live In? What do Okapis eat. Amongst the plants they consume, there are even species of poisonous plants which are fatal to other animals and humans. Okapis eat tree leaves and buds, grass, ferns, fruit and fungi. As well as the plants that the okapi eat, they also eat a reddish clay that provides essential salt and minerals to the plant based diet of the okapi.Okapi are generally not sociable animals and okapi do not seek companionship. They will reach up into trees with their tongues, pull down a branch and rake off the leaves with their mouths as they let go of the branch. Examination of okapi faeces has revealed that the charcoal from trees burnt by lightning is consumed as well. They will eat leaves, ferns, fungi, grass, fruit, and other plant matter. They were not distinguished by the western science as a distinct species until the early 20th century. 1 Description 2 Zoo Tycoon 3 Zoo Tycoon 2 4 Trivia The okapi is an ungulate found only in the dense tropical forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. b. Okapis are taller than giraffes. The name Okapi and the generic name Okapia were derived from the word o’api which is used by the indigenous African people speaking Lese Karo language. I would only eat certain berries so we dont eat much in common. Therefore, there is an opinion that this is why okapi eat coal obtained from burned forest trees. The Habitats of Giraffes, Lions & Elephants. Since okapis are rarely seen in the wild, their courtship and mating rituals can only be witnessed in the zoo. The okapi is eaten by the leopard. Where do okapis live?