Singapore’s Mandai Wildlife Group announced the birth of a male okapi calf at Rainforest Wild Adventure East, marking the first time the endangered species has been successfully bred in Southeast Asia. Born on July 27, the calf weighed 20 kilograms at birth and has since grown to 48 kilograms under the care of first-time parents Kisala and Xandor.
Breeding Program and Pregnancy Confirmation
The parents arrived in Singapore through the EAZA Ex Situ Programme, an international initiative designed to coordinate breeding among zoos to maintain sustainable assurance populations for threatened species. According to Mandai Wildlife Group curator Cecilia Tang, animal care staff noticed shifts in Kisala’s appetite and body condition following her introduction to Xandor. An ultrasound performed in July confirmed the pregnancy. Okapis possess one of the longest gestation periods among hoofed mammals, lasting approximately 440 days, or 14 to 15 months.
Early Development and Hiding Behavior
Newborn okapi calves naturally spend their initial weeks hidden and still to evade predators, with mothers returning only a few times a day to nurse. To accommodate this instinctual behavior, keepers constructed a secluded calving box in an off-exhibit den before the birth, drawing on husbandry techniques from other zoological institutions. While the calf and mother have recently gained access to their outdoor habitat in the Hidden Forest area, Tang noted that staff are letting the young animal explore and build confidence at its own pace. Visitors who cannot spot the calf outside can view a live stream from the den via a baby monitor.
Conservation Status and Public Engagement
Native to the northeastern rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, okapis are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Wild populations face threats from illegal hunting, forest loss, and human encroachment. Mandai Wildlife Group has launched a public naming poll on its Facebook and Instagram pages for the new calf, offering three Swahili and Lingala-inspired choices: Imara, meaning strong; Mayaka, meaning pearl; and Kiah, meaning dawn.
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