A young okapi named Gates seemed to jump for joy as he explored and frolicked in his new habitat at the San Antonio Zoo in Texas. The okapi, which is native to Africa and genetically related to giraffes, was born on Sept. 2 according to the zoo. https://abcnews.visitlink.me/G-UZEm | ABC News

BABY OKAPI CUTENESS: Two-month-old Malamu recently took her first steps into the okapi yard! This little explorer kicked up her heels and wandered around the habitat, taking in all the new sights and sounds. Guests may catch a quick glimpse of her, but we don't have a set schedule for when she'll be out - we'll let her and mom Maziwa's comfort level dictate that. Help us continue to provide top-notch care for Malamu by making a tax-deductible gift to the Dallas Zoo today: bit.ly/4b6zFbH | Dallas

We are thrilled to announce we welcomed a healthy, female okapi calf on February 4 to first-time parents Maziwa and Ikenge. Weighing at just 46 pounds, the little one was observed standing and nursing shortly after birth. This precious addition marks the first okapi baby born at the Dallas Zoo since 2013! Both mom Maziwa and baby are doing well and are enjoying some quiet bonding time behind the scenes. It will be a few more weeks until the little one makes her habitat debut but be sure to stay

With a tongue that can extend up to 18 inches (45 cm), the okapi uses this remarkable adaptation to skillfully strip leaves, buds, and fruit from the understory trees of the Congo Basin. Their diet, rich in over 100 plant species, helps shape the forest’s biodiversity—an unsung but vital ecological role. Often mistaken as relatives of zebras due to their stripes, okapis are actually the only living relative of the giraffe. Yet unlike their towering cousins, these secretive animals are found sole