This is our fifth week of 'Zebee's Summer Zoo Camp’ and that means it’s Observant okapi week. Okapis are interesting animals. They look like a cross between a zebra and a giraffe.
Basic Okapi Facts *
Okapis are related to giraffes. *
There scientific name, Okapia johnstoni came from the man who discovered them back in 1901. His name was Sir Harry Johnston. *
Okapis can live 20 to 30 years. *
They can weigh up to 550 lbs and stand up to 6 ft. *
They live in the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. *
They use their long tongues to eat leaves just like a giraffe does. *
There are only about 30,000 okapis living in the wild.
Fun Okapi Facts *
Their stripes are thought to help baby okapis follow their mothers in the dense rain forests where they live. They also serve as camouflage. *
When okapis were first discovered, it was thought that they were a type of zebra because of the stripes on their legs. *
An okapi can eat up to 65 pounds of food every day. *
Okapis travel up to half a mile a day in search of food. *
They can clean their ears and eyes with their tongue They are about 12 inches long and they are blue! *
Some people think okapis look like they are made of velvet because their fur is so thick. *
A scent gland on each foot leaves behind a sticky, tar-like substance wherever they have walked, marking their territory.
Have fun making up animals with this
Build A New Beast
game. Can you find all the parts that make up the okapi? Where does he live?
Thanks San Diego Zoo!
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Fun With Words
Here’s a fun and easy word search for you to try. Find the hidden message with the left over letters.
Help Mori and the gang from the V Zoo get through the maze to the Birthday cake.
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Have fun coloring this page of Mori with his birthday hat on.
Both the maze and coloring page are from our activity book that goes with our book “Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa.” You can look at them over at our
book store.
Fun With Food
We found this great recipe that’s easy to make and great to eat.
This is courtesy of the San Diego Zoo
Okapi Oatmeal
Ingredients
1 packet of instant oatmeal – any flavor
1/3 cup of water
chocolate syrup
1. Empty oatmeal packet into a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Add water and stir.
3. Microwave on high 30 to 45 seconds.
4. Let stand for several minutes to cool.
Now for the fun part!
Put some chocolate syrup in a small bowl and, using an eyedropper, design your own okapi with stripes.
Breakfast okapis are white with brown stripes while rain forest okapis are brown with white stripes.
What else could you use to make oatmeal okapi stripes, and what color is your okapi?
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This week we have three arts and crafts projects for you to do.
Now we have Mori as a jointed craft. You can use paper or if you want to, you can use foam board and draw your own face and stripes. Have fun with this one.
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Before we end this week of okapis, here's your okapi exhibit to go with your mural at the end of zoo camp.
