Antwerp Zoo: exceptional birth of a baby okapi like no other
Author: Clark Tos
2022-10-21 13:17:02
At the beginning of October, Antwerp Zoo welcomed its second baby okapi, and the little mammal has an adorable peculiarity.
rose au card nice from Antwerp (Belgium)! The animal park announced this Thursday, October 20 the birth of a baby okapi, born on October 7th. Luckily, the little male, named Xambo, is doing wonderfully.
Photo credit: Antwerp Zoo
It must be said that his birth went without a hitch, as shown by these images captured by the establishment. According to staff, Xambo was already standing two hours after birth.
Ever seen an okapi being born? What an unforgettable sight in this unique video! What unique images from Antwerp ZOO! The calf is 72 cm tall and weighs 17.5 kg. pic.twitter.com/uvpQCmfLn5
— Antwerp ZOO (@zooantwerpen) October 20, 2022
« He is a handsome guy with a height of 72 centimeters. Its weight of 17.5 kilograms is perfectly proportionate to its size said a zoo keeper. ' It is a beautiful animal with large protruding ears with the typical stripes of the okapi on the hindquarters. Mom Zaire takes good care of her little male ».
Photo credit: Antwerp Zoo
The little okapi has an adorable peculiarity
Unlike its congeners, the ruminant has a tongue...pink! In most cases, okapis are endowed with a bluish tongue. Xambo shares this common point with Xandor, a young okapi who showed up at the park last April.
« Having two pink-tongued okapi is absolutely unique ', told Patrick, an okapi specialist for over 32 years. As you will have understood, the two mammals can boast of being exceptional.
Photo credit: Antwerp Zoo
You may not know it, but in 2013 the okapi joined the red list of threatened species of the IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In the wild, this herbivore, native to the Democratic Republic of Congo, is threatened by habitat loss (deforestation) and poaching.
Photo credit: Antwerp Zoo