New Arrival Kora Joins the Okapi Family at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Yorkshire Wildlife Park recently celebrated the arrival of a new resident, Kora, a two-and-a-half-year-old okapi. The young female okapi made the journey from Chester Zoo on the 21st of August, as part of a meticulously coordinated movement of okapi across UK zoos.

This effort is designed to support the crucial breeding programme, which faces challenges due to the current restrictions on the movement of hoofstock from Europe because of the Blue Tongue virus outbreak.

Strategic moves to support breeding programmes

Kora’s arrival at Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP) is part of a broader exchange intended to bolster the okapi population in the UK. In a reciprocal move, YWP's female okapi, Ruby, was sent to Chester Zoo. There, she will be introduced to their breeding male, Stomp, with hopes that she will return to YWP in calf next year. Meanwhile, Ruby’s son, Mzimu, who is also two and a half years old, has been transferred to ZSL London Zoo. Mzimu is expected to play a pivotal role as a future breeding male, contributing to the European breeding programme's continued success.

Kora's smooth transition to her new home

Upon her arrival at YWP, Kora settled in quickly. She was soon spotted enjoying the browse cut specifically for her from the park’s plantation. Just a day later, the young okapi ventured outside into her new surroundings, an event eagerly documented by the Animal Team at the park.

Kyrie Birkett, Section Head for Hoofstock at YWP, expressed her satisfaction with Kora's acclimatization, stating,

"We’ve been watching Kora closely since she arrived, and she has been remarkably calm, adapting to life here really well. It’s been so nice to see her outside in the sunshine. The visitors who have spotted her already have been so excited!"

Birkett also mentioned that they will gradually increase the time Kora spends outdoors as she gets used to her new environment. In one particularly endearing moment, Kora had her first-ever encounter with a zebra in the adjacent reserve, an experience that took her by surprise since she had never seen one before.

The endangered status of the Okapi

The okapi is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The birth of Mzimu on the 30th of November 2021 marked a significant achievement for YWP, as he was the first okapi calf successfully bred at the park as part of the European breeding programme.

Okapis are native to the north-eastern rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These shy and reclusive animals are often referred to as the “forest giraffe” due to their distinctive markings. However, their population is under severe threat from poaching, logging, illegal mining, and political unrest in their native habitat. In 1901, there were approximately 250,000 okapis in the wild, but today, their numbers have dwindled to around 10,000.

A unique opportunity for visitors at YWP

YWP, located in Auckley, near Doncaster, is one of the few places in the UK where visitors can observe these elusive animals up close. Covering 175 acres, the park is home to over 70 species of beautiful and endangered animals, including the country’s largest group of Polar Bears, Amur leopard, lions, and black rhino.

Kyrie Birkett added,

“We are delighted to see Kora adapt so well as okapis are so endangered. The continuation of the successful breeding programme in the UK depends on close cooperation between zoos, and we look forward to Ruby returning from Chester in the future, hopefully in calf.”

The okapi can grow to nearly five feet tall at the shoulder, with an average body length of eight feet. They can weigh up to 350 kilograms and have a lifespan of around 30 years. In the wild, okapi mothers are known to hide their calves in nests or undergrowth during the vulnerable first few months of life, showcasing their reclusive nature even from a young age.

For visitors to YWP, the chance to see these extraordinary animals up close is a rare and valuable experience, offering a glimpse into the life of a species that is fighting for survival in the wild.