trippin’

This is my all time favourite of my animal photos. Unfortunately its not taken out in the wild but in the Berlin Zoo in May 2008.

Okapi has often described as half giraffe, half zebra. It is only known for Westerners since early 20th century, even though there has been rumours about “African Unicorn” since Ancient Egypt time. Explorers, including Henry Morton Stanley, were busy trying to find this mystical animal tipped by pygmies. It is still so rare, that Virunga National Park in Congo (DRC) was happy to announce in June 2006 that they have evidence of Okapis in the park – the first since 1959. Evidence, not observations.

What makes Okapi even more bizarre is its long, blueish tongue. It is one of those animals which can lick their ears with their own tongue. In here, though, it seems like he (its male, it has horns) would be making a face for the too-curious photographer.