what does the okapi conservation project do

 

Okapis are found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are seen as the major flagship species of the Ituri Forest. A MOST CURIOUS ANIMAL, A CULTURAL SYMBOL, A SPECIES ON THE BRINK | The mission of the Okapi Conservation Project is to conserve the okapi … Okapi are a diurnal species, feeding in the mornings and evenings. 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. Yes, I would like to receive emails from Okapi Conservation Project. to the people living next to the reserve. 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. Follow, share, and spread the word about wildlife and ecological conservation. From head to tail the okapi measures 1.9 to 2.5m (6.2 to 8.2ft). The okapi is entirely dependent on the forest sanctuary for its survival, and deforestation, along with poaching and mining, have led to its precipitous and perilous decline. The okapi has a weight range of between 200 and 350kg (440 to 770lb). OCP supports rangers that patrol the forest - arresting poachers and shutting down illegal logging and mining operations in the Reserve. Okapi eat toxic leaves, fruits, and fungi. They’re a Pixar protagonist in the making. Much like our own fingerprints, each okapi has a unique stripe pattern. 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. Calves will stay in one place on a “nest” for the first six to nine weeks of their life. November 22, 2020. 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. Cause. The Okapi Conservation Project works with the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature to provide resources to rangers who patrol the reserve and other okapi-occupied areas. 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. Diet. The project focusses on three issues: wildlife protection, community assistance and conservation education. They have long (up to 18in/46cm! International Rhino Foundation. 10 Okapi Facts. The Okapi Conservation Project has been working to protect the okapi and its habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for 25 years. Due to their elusive nature, the okapi population is difficult to measure. Charity Organization. Okapi Conservation Project | 284 followers on LinkedIn. Okapi have scent glands on each foot leaves a sticky tar-like residue wherever they walk to mark their territory. The Congo Civil War threatened both the wildlife and the conservation workers in the Reserve. 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 … The Okapi Conservation Project is located within the Ituri Forest, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Log In. Conservation work in the Congo includes the continuing study of okapi behaviour and life styles, which led to the creation in 1992 of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. Healthcare and housing for ICCN personnel and their families, in addition to equipment, supplies, facilities and infrastructure are supported by OCP and its partners. IUCN Okapi Conservation and Status Review. They can go up to 60 days before defecating, as to not warn predators with their scent. They called it. Their incredible hearing is imperative for tracking predators and listening for low frequency calls from other okapi that are undetectable to leopards and humans. or. A typical okapi will stand 1.5-2m (4.9-6.5ft) high. Okapi’s large ears can move independently of one another, so they can stay alert from all angles. Forgot account? Nonprofit Organization. The okapi, also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe, or zebra giraffe, is an artiodactyl mammal that is endemic to the northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. Spread the Word! The OCP assists with coordinating wildlife patrols to remove snares, arrest poachers and close illegal gold … These women are working hard for the betterment of their community and okapi conservation. The main threats to the okapi are habitat loss, hunting, deforestation and civil unrest in their native Congo. The Okapi Conservation Project was founded in 1987 for the protection of the okapis and their habitat. 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. 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. The Okapi Conservation Project is partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Network. The Okapi Conservation Project was established in DR Congo in June of 1987 when the country was still known as Zaire. Okapi Conservation Project is devoted to protecting the okapi and preserving its habitat. Okapi derives from the name given to it by the Lese tribes local to the area of its discovery. To protect this shy, giraffe-like animal, wildlife conservationist John Lukas founded the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) in 1987. Create New Account. Not only do camera traps collect footage of animals, they also employ some of the local community. The okapi’s main natural predator is the leopard. Just like giraffes, okapi must splay their legs in order to reach water. They consume charcoal and clay which acts as a detoxifier and provides them with needed minerals. This project provides support for training and equipping wildlife guards and lends community assistance (clean water, medical services, school supplies, etc.) Help ensure the future of this beautiful endangered species with a donation, and learn what your money goes towards. The OCP relies heavily on zoos around the globe to educate the international public about this unique, captivating creature and the importance of its rainforest habitat. 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. The OCP’s work on the ground includes: 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. Okapi live in the dense rainforest of the DRC, characterized by high precipitation and little light due to the dense tree canopy. A sexually dimorphic species- females are typically larger than males by around 100 pounds, while males have ossicones (small horns covered in skin and fur). Protecting the Animals, Plants and People of the Ituri Forest. The okapi and the giraffe are the only living members of the family Giraffidae. Although the okapi has striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is most closely related to the giraffe. The Okapi Conservation Project. Throughout DRC’s turmoil, the Okapi Conservation Project has remained the primary supporter of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and protector of okapi. Your donations fund the resources and partnerships critical to making real, sustainable impact. Shy and usually solitary, the okapi is nearly impossible to … The okapi stands about 1.5 m tall at the shoulder and has a typical body length around 2.5 m. 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