SAN DIEGO, Ore. - for the first time in four years, a baby okapi was born at the San Diego Zoo.
An okapi, which is most closely related to the giraffe, stands close to five feet at the shoulder and is native to the Ituri Forest - a dense rain forest in central Africa near the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Its zebra-like white-and-black striped hindquarters and front legs give the okapi added camouflage in the partial sunlight that filters through its rain forest habitat.
Mosi, the first okapi born at the San Diego zoo in four years, is three weeks old and standing on wobbly legs with an evident sense of curiosity.
"This is her first half, and she is allowing us to interact with this calf because she trust us," senior keeper John Michael said of the mother, Mbaya. "It was a relationship we had developed for a long period of time prior to this calf being born."