Is okapi found in Ituri Forest?
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve occupies about one-fifth of the Ituri forest in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also has some dramatic scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers.
Why is the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in danger?
Since the RN4 bisects the southern part of the Reserve from east to west, there is a very high risk that pressure on the Reserve’s natural resources will increase singificantly. Human activity related disturbances from poachers, miners, militia, military and farmers, and loss of forest habitat are the main threats.
What animals live in the Ituri rainforest?
The most notable species is the forest giraffe, called okapi, which is endemic to the Ituri. Numerous forest antelopes include five species of duiker, the water chevrotain, and the pygmy antelope. Leopards, genets, and mongooses are the main carnivores.
What are okapi poached for?
(02/28/2013) A key Congo wildlife reserve has lost 75 percent of its elephants in just 15 years due to poaching to meet Asian demand for ivory, reports a new survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Democratic Republic of Congo authorities.
How many okapi are left in the world?
22,000 Okapis
The Okapi is also called the forest zebra. How many Okapis are left in the world? There are 22,000 Okapis left in the world.
How many Okapi are left in the world?
What is the soil like in rainforests?
Only a thin layer of decaying organic matter is found, unlike in temperate deciduous forests. Most tropical rainforest soils relatively poor in nutrients. Millions of years of weathering and torrential rains have washed most of the nutrients out of the soil. More recent volcanic soils, however, can be very fertile.
Where is Ituri Forest found?
northeastern Zaire
The Ituri Forest, located in northeastern Zaire just above the equator and near the Ugandan border, is approximately 70,000 square kilometers in area. It is bounded by open savanna to the north and east and is contiguous with lowland forest on the south and west where its rivers drain into the Zaire River Basin.
Are okapi gentle?
Shy and elusive as it is serene and gentle, with remarkable natural defenses against predation (not least of which, its extraordinary markings), the okapi is nearly impossible to observe in the wild.
Where is the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Africa?
Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve occupies about one-fifth of the Ituri forest in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congo river basin, of which the reserve and forest are a part, is one of the largest drainage systems in Africa.
How many pygmy Mbuti live in Okapi Wildlife Reserve?
Located in the Congo River basin, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve is a refuge for nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters and many species of animals and birds. It’s also home to about 5,000 of the estimated 30,000 okapi surviving in the wild. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve was established in 1992 and listed as a World Heritage Site in 1996.
How many okapis are there in the world?
Some 30,000 okapis survive in the wild today, of which about 5,000 live in the reserve. In total, the reserve is home to 101 mammal species and 376 documented species of birds.
How big is the okapi forest giraffe population?
The population of the endemic species of Okapi (Okapia johnstoni), a forest giraffe, is estimated at 5,000 individuals. Among the endemic mammals of the forest in the north-east of the DRC identified in the Reserve, are the aquatic genet (Osbornictis piscivora) and the giant genet (Genetta victoriae).
