What is an Okapi?
An Okapi or Johnstoni, which is its scientific name, is an animal native to the Ituri Rain Forest in the Dominican Republic of Congo. It is a short necked relative of the giraffe, that looks similar to a horse. The Okapi has zebra like patterned back legs, and long unusually long tongues.
Why Did I Choose this Animal?
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Why did I choose this animal? Many people just searched on Google a "list of animals" and the first one that they saw, they chose to research it. However I have certain reasons why I truly wanted to learn more and research this animal.
First off, what very first sparked my interest was when I was 9 years old, and we went to the San Antonio Zoo. We were looking around at all the animals when I saw one that didn't look like your average zoo animal. We were in the section of the petting zoo, and so I started to walk slowly towards this mysterious creature. I read the sign and learned that it was an Okapi, which I had never heard of. I was just about ready to touch the animals smooth looking skin when I heard my name being called, and it was time to go. I was sad that I didn't get to actually touch the animal near my fingertips, but I continued on. We stopped at the gift shop, and I was looking around, when I spotted a stuffed Okapi. I immediately bought it, and was intrigued by this strange animal. Ever since then, I learned little about it but never really researched the animal. When we were assigned this project I knew exactly what animal I wanted to do and was excited to learn more about this exquisite creature that I was captured by so long ago.
First off, what very first sparked my interest was when I was 9 years old, and we went to the San Antonio Zoo. We were looking around at all the animals when I saw one that didn't look like your average zoo animal. We were in the section of the petting zoo, and so I started to walk slowly towards this mysterious creature. I read the sign and learned that it was an Okapi, which I had never heard of. I was just about ready to touch the animals smooth looking skin when I heard my name being called, and it was time to go. I was sad that I didn't get to actually touch the animal near my fingertips, but I continued on. We stopped at the gift shop, and I was looking around, when I spotted a stuffed Okapi. I immediately bought it, and was intrigued by this strange animal. Ever since then, I learned little about it but never really researched the animal. When we were assigned this project I knew exactly what animal I wanted to do and was excited to learn more about this exquisite creature that I was captured by so long ago.