Camera traps set by the Zoological Society of London in the Democratic Republic of Congo have captured rare pictures of wild okapi. The giraffe-like mammals, which have zebra-like stripes on their rear, are under threat from the bush meat trade. The sightings in Virunga National Park prove the species is surviving in the jungle despite years of civil conflict.Okapis, which have a black tongue designed for grasping and holding, along with distinctive stripes on their behind, are the closest living relative of the giraffe. They were unknown to the western world until the early 20th Century, but are now known to inhabit three protected areas, of which Virunga National Park is one. Their abundance in the park is unknown as access to the forests of Congo is limited by civil conflict and poor infrastructure, making survey work difficult.
