Those who know me well know that I am fascinated by the okapi, a relative of the giraffe which appears to have the hindquarters of a zebra.
Therefore, I was thrilled to hear that, not only are they not extinct, but that they have finally been photographed in the wild.
Camera traps set up by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have captured landmark pictures in Virunga National Park (VNP) - proving that the species is still surviving there despite Over a Decade of Civil Conflict (WAR).
Yes, it is certainly a thrill to look at the first picture of an okapi in the wild. If you pay careful attention, you can tell that it is looking straight at the camera. Can you feel the camera operator's excitement?
The next picture, taken eleven days later, is even better, though it reminds me of the photographic skills of certain grandmothers I know.
However, it is the third picture of an okapi in the wild which says it all, really. This is what nature conservancy is all about. This is why you should donate to the okapi project.
If that does not convince you, then you should see the sort of photograph researchers have been taking in the past.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Okapi
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