Through our agroforestry program, we work with farmers to reduce slash-and burn agriculture to protect and enhance the okapi’s rainforest habitat. Okapi Predators and Threats. Threats to Okapis Civil unrest, which makes effective conservation work difficult, is widely considered to be the main factor behind the okapi’s decline. The okapi does not have many different threats/predators. Other threats facing okapis include illegal logging, mining and poaching in protected forests. Major threats include habitat loss due to logging and human settlement. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. The unpredictable security situation and lack of political stability in the Eastern part of Congo makes protecting the Okapi and the reserve challenging. Threats: Their are many things that post a threat to Okapi, one of them being deforestation which is the destroying of forest life. The female Okapis attain sexual maturity after about 18 months while males become sexually mature after about two years. They are also poached for meat and their unique pelts. Number of okapi hunting incidents reduced by 95%. John Lukas: A major threat to okapi is the loss of prime habitat through slash-and-burn agriculture. Protecting okapi within the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and another large national park in the DRC is the most important objective. Poaching and habitat loss, as well as the presence of rebels, elephant poachers and illegal miners, are the principal threats to its survival. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies the okapi as endangered. Illegal armed groups in some protected areas have prevented effective conservation action. It has been given full protection under the Congolese law. Okapis inhabit canopy forests at altitudes of 500–1,500 m (1,600–4,900 ft). They have experienced significant habitat loss due to logging and human settlements including the illegal occupation of protected areas, with 1/3 of its known distribution at risk of major incursions17. At least 50 rangers/wildlife officers trained and 150 equipped to combat poaching and illegal trade in ivory. Threats to Okapis Civil unrest, which makes effective conservation work difficult, is widely considered to be the main factor behind the okapi’s decline. Okapis inhabit canopy forests at altitudes of 500–1,500 m (1,600–4,900 ft). Made up of experts from around the world, our group leads efforts to study giraffe, okapi and the threats they face, as well as leading and supporting conservation actions designed to ensure the survival of the two species into the future. Illegal mining of each has contributed to the population loss. Population number. In June 2012, the Réserve de Faune à Okapis HQ was attacked, during which seven people and 14 captive okapi were killed. The special thing about okapis is that the mothers can produce infrasonic calls to communicate with their calves while foraging. The main threats to the okapi are habitat loss, hunting, deforestation and civil unrest in their native Congo. The okapi was reclassified as Endangered in 2013 by the IUCN Red List (previously classified as Near Threatened), meaning their population has decreased, with a population estimate of 35,000 – 50,000. Okapi Okapia johnstoni Population and conservation status, threats to survival, management actions. Population threats. Coltan Mining in the Congo Coltan, a mineral used in small electronics like cell phones, is mined in the Congo rainforests. Other threats facing okapis include illegal logging, mining and poaching in protected forests. 6. Okapi are hunted for meat and skins, and a major threat to this species is habitat loss due to logging and human settlement. 2015). The main predator of the Okapi is the Leopard, which is one of the world’s largest and most powerful felines and an animal that spends a lot of time resting in the trees. The influx of poachers is not only a serious threat to the elephants, it’s a danger to okapi as well. According to the IUCN Red List resource, the total population size of the okapi is around 35,000-50,000 individuals. Illegal gold mining and the presence of armed militias around the mines are major threats to okapis. Poachers also illegally hunt okapis for their meats and pelts. The greatest threat to the Okapi and the reserve is forest encroachment by migrants from overpopulated parts of Eastern Congo, poaching for bush meat, illegal logging, illegal gold and Coltan mining. Due to the fact that the Okapi inhabits such a secluded region of mountain rainforest, it actually has surprisingly few common predators particularly in comparison to similar species. The soils in Ituri Forest are relatively infertile for farming. As well as armed conflict, major threats to the okapi are forest loss through logging and human settlement, and hunting for bushmeat. Threats to the okapi include habitat loss, hunting, deforestation and civil unrest. Despite the challenges, conserving the Okapi Wildlife Reserve is crucial if the remarkable level of biological diversity which supports a viable population of okapi is to remain a functioning part of the Ituri Forest landscape for decades to come. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), created to protect the secretive okapi (Okapia johnstoni), will now be governed through a 10-year Co-management Partnership Agreement between the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Another recent threat that has surfaced is the presence of illegal armed groups around protected areas. Okapi can coexist with small-scale, low-level human occupation of the forest, but disappear in areas of active settlement or disturbance, and the major threat to this species is habitat loss due to logging and human settlement including illegal occupation of protected areas (Hart 2013, Kümpel et al. Unwittingly, forest elephants are a lure to poachers who are increasingly trespassing in the Reserve to hunt these elephants for their tusks. Coltan Mining in the Congo Coltan, a mineral used in small electronics like cell phones, is mined in the Congo rainforests. However it does have one predator that mainly hunts it-- the leopard. 2 Read the following detail from the article. Threats. 4. The okapi has also been threatened by extensive hunting for bush meat and skin. Dublin Zoo is part of an international breeding programme for okapi and also partners with the Okapi Conservation Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help monitor and protect okapi … Civil war in the Congo has had a devastating impact on the species. Deforestation and loss of habitat to agriculture and human settlements are threats for the okapi. Major threats to the okapi are habitat loss due to logging and human settlement. As relatively little is known about okapi biology or ecology, it is difficult to know how these threats impact on the okapi. Our website provides access to zoo, animal, plant, conservation, and veterinary information resources. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), created to protect the secretive okapi (Okapia johnstoni), will now be run under a new management partnership agreement between the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the DRC government’s Nature Conservation Agency (ICCN), according to a press release by WCS. Which makes sense because the leopard is a very quick animal that can somehow catch the okapi despite the okapis shyness and camouflage. Threats to the Congo Basin. The main threats to Okapi is the logging and the habitat loss due to human settlements. “Our agroforestry programme addresses this by teaching farmers how to improve the soil quality, and by planting nitrogen-fixing trees,” Meers explains. Although the site is open to the general public, librarian services and some resources are reserved for SDZ Global … Information on threats faced by the okapi is given under the ‘Threats’ section. (D) In 2012, soldiers opened fire on the headquarters of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, killing 6 people and 14 okapis. greatest threats to the okapi. Another one like i have stated poaching … This sound is very useful in dense forests, and human ears cannot pick up that 14Hz sound at all. How protecting the okapi could bring income, sanitation, health services, and security to a remote area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Okapi animal is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Management of the OWR is delegated to WCS […] threat to okapi survival. A female okapi is very protective of her young, and she will beat the ground with her hooves to ward off threats. After the threats were made, MONUSCO officials suggested a mediation meeting but their proposal was rejected by Col. Kasongo. One of the main threats to the okapi is habitat loss through slash-and-burn agriculture. The Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis), known as the African peafowl or mbulu by the Bakôngo, is a species of peafowl native to the Congo Basin. These pages are part of the San Diego Zoo Global Library website. However, besides predation, the biggest threat to the population of Okapi is habitat loss caused by deforestation. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies the okapi as endangered. Okapi Conservation . 10 0 16 199. published. Threats to okapi from hunting for bushmeat and snares are demonstrably reduced. There is also a lack of data on the species. Use electronic devices as long as possible and recycle them. - Threats The main threats to Okapi are leopards and human impact. 5. Humans and leopards are the biggest threats to okapi, but the animals seem to have figured out a strong defense against the latter, at least. 5 December 2014. A major report on the Congo Basin has found the world’s “second lung” is struggling to maintain its rich biodiversity amid deforestation, poaching and the worsening effects of climate change. It is one of three extant species of peafowl and the only member of the subfamily native to Africa, the other two being the Indian peafowl (originally of India and Sri Lanka) and the green peafowl (native to Myanmar and Indochina). The okapi share their habitat with a diversity of animals, including the largest population of forest elephants in the DRC. Okapis are believed to be threatened with extinction in the near future. Reproduction and Life Cycle Okapis usually lead a solitary life with males and females coming together briefly only for the purpose of mating. What is Dublin Zoo doing? 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