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The world’s only living relative of the giraffe has received its strongest global protection yet. Conservationists say the move closes trafficking loopholes, strengthens protections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and signals a historic step toward safeguarding this rare and iconic forest mammal.
SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | The world’s only living relative of the giraffe has just received its strongest global protection yet.
On November 28, 2025, parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) voted to list the okapi on Appendix I, imposing a full international ban on commercial trade of the species and its parts.
According to the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the decision closes long-standing loopholes exploited by traffickers and strengthens protections already in place under Congolese law.
“The adoption of this Appendix I listing is a critical step for protecting one of the world’s most distinctive and imperiled mammals,” said Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President for International Policy.
“The okapi’s extremely limited and shrinking range, declining population, and escalating threats from hunting, habitat loss, and illegal trade make it exceptionally vulnerable. This decision will help ensure that okapis are safeguarded for generations to come,” she stated.
The okapi exists only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its numbers have been slipping for decades. Estimates range from as few as 4,500 to roughly 10,000 individuals, with most surviving inside the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, the species’ central refuge, which covers nearly one-fifth of the Ituri Forest in north-eastern Congo. Population counts remain uncertain because dense rainforest and years of insecurity have limited field surveys, but conservationists agree the overall trend is sharply downward.
The 13,700-square-kilometre reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Smaller populations persist in Maiko and Lomami National Parks, as well as in community forests across the Congo Basin. Conservationists say these forest fragments form the species’ last remaining lifeline.
The categorisation of the species as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reflects over a decade of decline due to shrinking habitats, poaching, and weakened forest governance.
Known formally as Okapia johnstoni, the okapi is one of Africa’s most distinctive large mammals. Its body resembles a short-necked giraffe, its hindquarters are striped like a zebra’s, and its coat is a smooth, dark chocolate brown. It uses its long, flexible tongue to pull leaves from dense rainforest branches, and its large ears detect the slightest disturbance in low-visibility conditions.
Habitat loss is a major driver of decline. Illegal logging, artisanal and industrial mining, charcoal burning, and shifting cultivation continue to fragment old-growth forests. New roads open previously intact areas to hunters, accelerating habitat destruction.
Poaching also poses a persistent threat. Okapis are hunted for bushmeat and occasionally for their skins, and snares set for other species often trap them. Field teams report snare densities in parts of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve remain high enough to endanger wildlife.
Instability in eastern Congo exacerbates these pressures. Armed groups operating near protected forests make patrolling dangerous or impossible, undermining years of investment in ranger training, community engagement, and monitoring.
The okapi’s biology adds further vulnerability. Females give birth to a single calf after up to 16 months of gestation. Calves must remain hidden in dense undergrowth for weeks, making them sensitive to human disturbance. Adults live two to three decades but occupy large, solitary home ranges, making population monitoring difficult.
Given these challenges, the CITES Appendix I listing is a major milestone. It elevates the okapi to the highest international protection category, making commercial export or import illegal worldwide.
According to ICCN and WCS, the significance lies not only in the ban itself but also in the international cooperation it triggers.
“For the people of the Ituri Forest, the okapi is not just a national symbol; it is a source of pride and identity,” said Dr Jean Paul Kibambe, WCS DRC Country Director. “The listing is vital to prevent international criminals from trafficking this species and will reinforce the work of Congolese conservationists and communities safeguarding it.”
The listing will require authorities in transit and consumer countries to strengthen border monitoring, investigate trade attempts, and share intelligence to disrupt trafficking routes.
For conservation teams on the ground, the decision could bring new funding and attention to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, often described as the species’ last stronghold. Authorities hope this will expand anti-poaching units, ecological monitoring teams, and forest-protection partnerships with Indigenous Mbuti and Efe communities, who have lived in the Ituri Forest for generations.
According to ICCN, “local communities are central to the okapi’s survival. Many rural households depend on the forest for their livelihoods, and enforcement alone cannot secure the species. Sustainable livelihoods, community forestry, and equitable benefit-sharing are essential to long-term protection.”
The okapi’s importance extends beyond its own survival. As a flagship species, it reflects the health of the Congo Basin rainforest. Protecting okapis indirectly safeguards forests that regulate Africa’s climate, store carbon, stabilise rainfall, and support rich biodiversity.
Recent ecological studies indicate that many species sharing the okapi habitat, including forest elephants, chimpanzees, and rare birds, benefit from the same patrols, monitoring systems, and community partnerships established for okapi conservation.
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SOURCE: Bonface Orucho, bird story agency
