Title
A summary report on the behaviour, ecology and conservation of the Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) in Zaire
Author(s)
Hart, J. A.; Hart, T. B.
Published
1990
Abstract
Ever since its discovery at the beginning of this century, the okapi (Okapia johnstoni) has remained one of the most enigmatic and mysterious of large African mammals. While the literature on captive animals is voluminous (see summary by GIJZEN & SMETS, 1974), the status, behaviour and ecology of okapi in the wild remains little known.
In 1986, Wildlife Conservation International (W.C.I.), in collaboration with the Institut Zairois pour la Conservation de la Nature (I.Z.C.N.), began a five-year study of the okapi in Zaire. The objectives of this project were to determine the current status and relative density of okapi populations in eastern Zaire and to undertake the first detailed study of the behaviour and ecology of the species in the wild.
In this paper we summarize results of the first three years of this project.
This includes the study of a free-ranging population by radio telemetry in the Ituri Forest and preliminary surveys of populations in several other areas of the species' range. Finally, we report on an important new effort to conserve the okapi in the wild.
This is a continuing project. Presentation and analysis of field data can be found in HART & HART (in press). Further reports are also in preparation.
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PUB26404