When the phrase "dwarf giraffes' imagination automatically helpfully provides a picture of an animal friend from childhood, only a small copy.However, the reality is not quite like that.Outwardly, this amazing animal does not seem like a long-necked relative of his.What is the pygmy giraffe really?Where he lives?Under what circumstances was found is a wonderful creation?
Homeland
okapi in the wild okapi found only in a single place on the planet - the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.This marshland located between three large lakes, overgrown with impassable rainforest.
Here in these wilds and the hidden dwarf giraffes.About how they were the right place for a quiet life of animals, evidenced by the fact that they became known to science only in 1901.And this news created a furor among experts.
Opening of a new mammal
first time an unknown animal in his book mentioned in passing GM Stanley - African explorer.This fact seriously interested Harry Johnston, who was at the time governor of Uganda.For information about the okapi (so-called local Aborigines the animal pygmy) been able to collect only the crumbs.Moreover, in the literal sense of the word.
first got hold of a couple of scraps Johnston okapi skins.Then he was able to see two skulls and whole skin.After receiving a copy of the skull okapi, Johnston immediately realized that this animal is a close relative of the giraffe.He sent all the data to London.There's a new kind of got the official name - the okapi Johnston.
strange combination
Dwarf giraffes okapi looks quite nice, but it is very difficult to reject the idea that this is some incredible combination of different animals.From cereal to the middle of the hind legs coloring them like a zebra.Similar strips and on top of the front legs.At the bottom of all four limbs is completely white, but at the bottom of the hooves goes wide black stripe.
body shape is more reminiscent of an antelope, but the size of a okapi horse.The ears are large and long horns and are almost invisible.But the language of dwarf giraffes can compete even with the anteater.It is so long that the animal safely cleans itself their eyes and ears, both inside and outside.
language okapi have blue as a dog breed chow-chow or a giraffe.This is very sticky and sliders, they deftly pluck the delicate foliage of the trees.
Habits
Up until today about the habits of living animals in their natural environment, we know little.Basically, all the observations are made for individuals who are in captivity.
Okapi feed on leaves and young shoots of trees.A necessary minerals and salt is mined directly from the clay, which may be eaten along with the plant food.
Until recently, even the thought that the okapi are nocturnal.However, it is not.Just shy of creating this very careful and stumble upon them the day is almost impossible.Okapi have very sensitive hearing.Therefore, predators, and the man, too, is not easy to catch them by surprise.
pygmy giraffe, whose name is so unusual to our ears, in captivity can live for more than three decades.
Pregnancy in females lasts more than a year - about 15 months.For delivery okapi choose remote inaccessible corners.Babies are fed milk for six months.
Okapi prefer a solitary lifestyle.They have marked the territory, but it often happens that a place of pasture a few individuals may overlap.Also, they are very hard to tolerate change of environment, so they are rarely seen in zoos.
