Rainforest Wild Adventure in Singapore welcomed a male okapi calf on July 27. Born to first-time parents Kisala and Xandor, the calf weighed about 20kg at birth and has since more than doubled his weight to 48kg.
The young okapi has begun exploring his outdoor habitat, although he still spends much of his time in a den. Visitors can catch glimpses of him through a live “baby monitor” when he retreats indoors. The park is also inviting the public to vote on three possible names for the calf.
Okapis are endangered animals native to the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite their zebra-like stripes, they are actually the closest living relatives of giraffes. In the wild, female okapis have a long gestation period of about 440 days, and newborns typically remain hidden for extended periods to avoid predators.
The birth is an important milestone for conservation efforts, as successful breeding of okapis in managed care can contribute to maintaining healthy populations. Rainforest Wild Adventure is also preparing to welcome more species, including additional lemurs, later in 2026.
