Enclosure

Temperature
Humidity
Illumination
Inside Facilities
Outside Facilities
Inter-individual Spaces
Temporary Isolation
Furnishings
Visual, Acoustic and Olifactory Barriers
Substrates and Nesting Materials
Variation in the Environment
Scent Marking and Cleaning
Air Quality
Safety and Containment
 

Ideal facility temperature is within the range of 66–78°F
(19–26°C). The health and age of the animals sometimes makes
the difference. Many facilities must routinely utilize some type of
heating system during the colder months. In southern facilities,
good ventilation in the summer months is equally important to
minimize high temperatures. Though this species is not cold
hardy, they can tolerate outside temperatures of 40–55°F
(5–13°C) for short periods of time if given free access to a heated
space. Temperatures below 40°F (5°C) should be avoided unless
the weather is calm, sunny and dry.

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Humidity: Native to the equatorial African rainforest, okapis are
accustomed to high humidity. It is beneficial to maintain 50-60%
humidity indoors to minimize sinus conditions.

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Illumination: Natural light intensity is more than sufficient for
this forest dweller. Skylights are recommended for a portion of the
space. Other areas can remain without skylights to moderate light
levels. Additional artificial lighting will be needed and should be
of sufficient intensity to observe all aspects of the animals and
their behavior while indoors. Artificial lighting should be adjusted
to match the normal day/night cycle.

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Inside Facilities should be spacious. At most institutions, okapis
spend more than 50% of their time on an annual basis inside, due
primarily to weather concerns and to insure animal safety
overnight. The design and square footage of interior space, therefore,
should be given serious consideration. Optimal stall space
for a single animal is 300 sq. ft. (28 sq. meters). Interior walls
should be a minimum of 6 feet (1.80m) high. Vertical space
should be high enough to allow mating to occur inside.

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Outside Facilities should offer protection from strong sunlight.
Shade is very important for this forest species. Calves in particular
are intolerant of extreme heat and sun. The minimum area for
two animals is 5412 sq. ft. (500 sq. m.). Exterior barriers 6 feet
high (1.80m) will contain this species. Flight reactions are less
severe and occur less frequently in enclosures, which are adequately
sized and offer a good amount of cover or areas of retreat for
the animals.The location chosen for this species should consider traffic patterns
and noise levels during routine operations. This shy, forest
species fares better in quiet, low profile settings. Water features
within the exhibit should not be deep. If animals have access to
the water, easy access in and out of the stream should be provided.
The streambed should also provide good traction to avoid animal
injury.

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Inter-individual Spaces: Okapis are not social. The most stable
groups in a captive setting appear to be related females, or females
who have been raised together from an early age. Multiple feeding
stations should be available. Each animal should be provided with
a bedded area. Males are often only with the females for mating
purposes. The facility must be able to separate all individuals when
necessary. An inter-individual space of 15 feet (4.5 meters)
is sufficient.

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Temporary Isolation: Individuals may need to be separated for a
variety of reasons throughout their life. Breeding males are often
maintained alone, but adjacent to the females. Females with young
calves are maintained by themselves. Medical procedures require
isolation to properly fast and recover the individual. Prior to shipment,
individuals should be isolated to acclimate to the shipping
container.

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Furnishings within the space should be free from sharp objects,
which might injure the animal. All items in the environment
should have rounded corners/edges. Furnishings should not be
placed directly in the animal’s travel path or close to doorways.
Placement of all furnishings should complement the layout of the
overall space. Type of furnishings should not allow animals to
become entangled. Visual barriers outside of the exhibit perimeter
should be provided to minimize collision with the perimeter.
Shade is very important for this species. Calves in particular are
intolerant of extreme heat and sun. The space should be generally
flat or gently sloping. Any slope should be no greater than a
3–to–1 grade. When in an excited state, okapis corner very close
to objects when running, and occasionally spin in place. The
design of the outside exhibit should keep these and other behaviors
in mind.

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Visual, Acoustic and Olfactory Barriers: The okapi’s senses of
smell and hearing are much keener than its vision. The most sensitive
management situations include a female with a young calf,
acclimation of a new individual to a facility, and an individual
acclimating to isolation. Noises from mechanical equipment and
small machinery should be kept to a minimum or eliminated in
the immediate area. The use of a radio within the facility can be
used to provide background noise and may minimize a startle
response when unexpected noises occur.

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Substrates and Nesting Materials: Floors should provide for
good traction and abrasion for hoof wear. Additional non-slip substrate
may be required prior to a birth depending on the nature of
the original floor. Fine grade limestone or a very thick layer of
absorbent bedding has provided good footing for newborns in
facilities where the permanent floor does not provide adequate
traction. This species will utilize an area of thick bedding on which
to rest and as a latrine area. Wood shavings are commonly used,
though other absorbent materials can be substituted. Each individual
requires its own nesting area. In the outside areas, commonly
traveled paths can be covered with abrasive material to promote
hoof wear if needed.

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Variation in the Environment: Occasionally, visual barriers may
need to be installed if individuals appear to be bothered by an
adjacent animal, or to give an individual more security. Hanging
large branches within the space also provides “cover” in addition to
being a treat to chew, strip and lick. Having multiple feeding locations
and changing these locations occasionally provides an opportunity
for animals to investigate the environment more thoroughly.

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Scent Marking and Cleaning: Okapis have pedal glands and utilize
scent marking to locate other okapis in the wild. In a captive
setting, this should not preclude maintaining a sanitary space and
cleaning on a regular schedule. Additionally, males will utilize
small shrubs to mark with urine.

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Air Quality: It is difficult to give a required number of air
exchanges per hour since the size and design of any given facility
varies. Enclosed facilities should maintain good ventilation at all
times to minimize ammonia levels and to help alleviate extreme
heat. Humidity levels should be monitored and maintained at a
moderate level (50–60% minimum) year-round for this forestdwelling
species.

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Safety and Containment: Generally, animal care staff can work
in with okapis. Occasionally, a difficult individual or situation is
encountered. For that reason, it is recommended that shift doors
be designed to allow remote operation. Animal door openings
should be 4 feet wide (1.22m) at a minimum. No severe slopes
should exist in the outside exhibit space. Deep water should be
avoided. It is important for this species to have visual barriers to
help outline the extent of the exhibit and minimize collision with
the perimeter. Six-foot (1.83m) high barriers are sufficient to contain
this species. Containment can be achieved through a variety
of materials. Barriers need to be free of protrusions or sharp edges
that may abrade or injure an animal. Barriers can be vertical bars
with spacing of about 3 inches (7.6cm.), or solid below with bars
or a sturdy wire mesh above. Cables and various types of mesh
fence have also been utilized. Horizontal spacing in cables should
be 6 inches (15cm) for the first 3 feet (90cm) of height; after 3
feet, 8 inch (20cm) spacing can be used. If other animals will be
adjacent, a barrier with a solid bottom offers more security for
young calves. Hot wire should not be utilized as a primary barrier,
although it has successfully been used as a secondary barrier
around plants, etc.

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HUSBANDRY GUIDELINES FOR THE OKAPI SSP - Sept 2004
Edited by Terry DeRosa, San Antonio Zoo, Fran Lyon, White Oak Conservation Center and Ann Petric, Okapi SSP Coordinator, Brookfield Zoo Illustration: J. Busch
Updated and adapted for the web, Patrick Immens