Although not related to zebras, they are the giraffe’s only living relative (Image: Gemini). Initially, it appears as if someone merged two entirely dissimilar animals. It features the zebra’s striped legs, the giraffe’s elongated face, and the antelope’s body. Discover the intriguing okapi—one of the planet’s most peculiar and enigmatic mammals. Frequently likened to a “zebra-giraffe hybrid” (though it’s not truly a blend of the two), this elusive forest dweller exists solely in the thick rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. A secretive kin to the giraffe. Even though it has zebra-like stripes, the okapi’s closest living relative is the giraffe. Researchers identified this link via anatomical and genetic studies. Both creatures are members of the Giraffidae biological family. Okapis, like giraffes, possess long necks (albeit much shorter than those of giraffes) and remarkably long, flexible tongues that can reach up to 30 centimeters. The tongue enables them to strip leaves from branches and even clean their own ears. Nature’s perfect camouflage.
