The okapi, an elusive animal that scientists say has not previously been photographed roaming in the wild, has been snapped by a camera in Congo. Officials at the Zoological Society of London, which released the photos, said Thursday that the images were important evidence that the rare species still exists in the wild, despite poaching and civil unrest in Congo. The doe-eyed animal, which is represented in zoos around the world, is a relative of the giraffe but has zebra-like stripes on its legs and rear. The photos were taken by cameras set up in the Virunga National Park by the zoological society and conservation authorities in Congo. Scientists had been hoping to capture such images after finding okapi tracks in the park a few years ago. “We are encouraged by the evidence that okapis have survived in Virunga, despite the years of conflict,” Virunga National Park Director Emmanuel de Merode said in an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press. “Park rangers have only recently regained control of this area that was formerly occupied by armed militias. But while it is positive that the okapi population remains, we are aware of their vulnerability to intense levels of poaching.” The okapi is only known to exist in Congo, primarily further north in Ituri province's Okapi Wildlife Reserve. They are difficult to spot because they are shy and usually only move around in couples. The animal's stripes are sometimes called “come follow me stripes,” because their bold pattern is believed to help young ones follow their mothers through the forest. Each animal's stripes are unique, like fingerprints. The species was unknown to European scientists until a century ago. It is thought to have inspired claims of unicorn sightings by Victorian-era explorers, according to Noelle Kumpel, a Zoological Society conservationist. The male has two horns on its forehead, but they can look like one horn if glimpsed from the side. “Stories came back of this mythical creature and the fact that it might be a unicorn,” Kumpel said.
