New Visitor Center - African Wildlife Foundation

8 African Wildlife NewsWildlife WATCHOkapiCardo KlebergThe okapi is the closest known relativeof the giraffe. It is muchsmaller – weighing 450-550pounds compared to up to 3,000 for thegiraffe. The okapi stands 5-1/2 to 6 feet tall.The giraffe is about 18 feet tall.Their similarities include a very long,muscular tongue that can wrap aroundbranches and strip the leaves and budsinto its mouth. The okapi can even cleanits eyes with its tongue. The bodies of bothanimals also slope, with the front legs positionedhigher than the back.The okapi’s most striking feature is thenarrow white stripes on its legs and rumpthat contrast with its dark brown body.Rarely seen in the wild, the okapi isone of the last large mammals identified bythe scientific community in the 1900s. Thename is adapted from o’api, which is whatthe Bambuti pygmies call these animals.Okapi are active during the day. Theymake their way through the jungle on welltroddenpaths, eating leaves, grasses, andThe okapi is found only in the dense rainforestsof northern Democratic Republic of Congo.fruit. Young animals make a wide variety ofnoises, including coughs, bleats, and whistles.But the older okapi are silent most ofthe time.It is estimated that there may be30,000 okapi in the wild, but there hasnever been an official count. The biggestthreat to their survival is the increase ofhuman settlements in their range.Recently, political clashes havedamaged the Okapi Wildlife Reserve inDemocratic Republic of the Congo wherean estimated 5,000 okapi live. Rangershave been forced to flee into the forest,increasing the risk of poaching.As an AWF member, you help protectunique wildlife like the okapi throughyour support.For more profiles of the animals youhelp protect through your support of theAfrican Wildlife Foundation, please visitwww.awf.org/wildlives/guidebook.php.Festival FeaturesFilms About AfricaThe 2004 Environmental FilmFestival in the Nation’s Capital willpresent over 100 documentary, animated,feature, archival, and children’sfilms. These films are selected toprovide fresh perspectives on environmentalissues affecting our planet. Thefestival is March 18-28. Some of thefilms relating to Africa are: Cheetah:Cats in Crisis, Wild Africa, The CulturedApe, and Snake Hunters of the Kalahari.For a complete film schedule, go towww.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org orcall 202-342-2564 for a film brochure.★★★★AWF ReceivesTop RankingFor the second year in a row, AWFhas earned a top, Four-Star overall ratingfrom Charity Navigator. AWF alsoreceived Four-Star rankings for our organizationalefficiency and organizationalcapacity. This ranking is based on howwell a charity sustains its efforts over time.Charity Navigator is a non-profitorganization that helps donors makeintelligent giving decisions by providinginformation, including a financial healthevaluation, on over 2,600 charities.Yes, I Want to Protect the Wildlife and Conserve the Wild Lands of AfricaPLEASEGIVETODAYI will partner with AWF to save the wildlife and wild lands ofAfrica by conserving the African Heartlands. I’m enclosing:■ $25 ■ $50 ■ $75 ■ $100 ■ $500 ■ $_____________________________________________________________________________________________NAME______________________________________________________________________________________ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________________________________CITY STATE ZIP_______________/________________________ ____________________________________________PHONEE-MAIL ADDRESSThank you! Please detachthis form and return it withyour tax-deductible check inthe enclosed envelope to:African Wildlife Foundation,1400 Sixteenth Street, N.W.,Suite 120, Washington, D.C.20036.If you have any questions,call us at 1-888-4-WILDLIFE.James Weis■ Please send me information aboutlegacy gifts to save Africa’s wildlife.■ Please send me your online newsletter, AWFAfrica News, so I can receive special updateson breaking news affecting the wildlife andwild lands of Africa.Please visit our Web site atwww.awf.org.A043