🌿 Field Update from OCP President John Lukas at the Okapi Wildlife Reserve 🌿 "I am in Epulu for at least a month working with staff on OCP’s Annual Work Plan and Project Budget for 2026. While at our base camp, I go to visit Tundana every day. She is doing fantastic, very calm, eating and drinking normally and her body condition is excellent. Tundana is curious about people in her enclosure even follows staff around when they are cleaning or cutting the grass. She is very playful running with

www.okapiconservation.org | Okapi Conservation Project

In this camera trap moment, a secret of the forest quietly unfolds. An okapi—gingerly walks through the undergrowth, unaware of the tiny forest companions that follow its path. Look closely, and you’ll spot two yellow-whiskered greenbuls darting by. These clever birds rely on the okapi to flush insects from the grasses—a unique partnership in the rainforest. This glimpse into the interconnected lives of Congo’s rainforest wildlife is a reminder: when we protect one species, we protect many. #Oka

Recently captured by our camera traps deep in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, this footage shows an okapi moving freely through its undisturbed rainforest home—a testament to the power of conservation. Protecting these forests means protecting the okapi and countless other species that depend on them. | Okapi Conservation Project

The countdown is on — World Okapi Day is just over one week away! On October 18, join us in celebrating and protecting the okapi by: 🌿 Donating to support forest protection and ranger programs 💚 Hosting a small fundraiser or awareness event 📸 Sharing your okapi pride online to inspire others Together, we can keep the okapi’s home — the Congo rainforest — safe and thriving. | Okapi Conservation Project

Our camera trap captured something extraordinary: a female okapi quietly navigating the forest under the cover of night—followed just five minutes later by a male. These elusive “forest giraffes” are famously secretive, making sightings like this incredibly special. Solitary by nature, okapi come together only briefly to mate. Moments like these offer a precious glimpse into their hidden world—and remind us just how much remains unknown about their lives in the dense Ituri Forest. #Okapi #IturiF

This year has been filled with milestones in protecting the okapi and its unique rainforest home. From expanded community engagement programs to vital conservation successes, this year’s progress wouldn’t have been possible without your support. Watch our 2024 Year in Review video below to see how your contributions made a difference in 2024. | Okapi Conservation Project