North American Okapi Population

This is the wrong thread to ask the question, as it's about the current US Okapi population. You'd be better served asking it in a Cleveland Zoo thread where people more familiar with the zoo will see it.

 

Another male calf has been born!

0.1 “Olivia” at DAK gave birth to a healthy male named “Beni” on July 17th, and the sire is presumably “Elombe”.

Olivia is a first time mom and it’s wonderful that all 3 females that gave birth/are due to give birth this year (to public knowledge) are first time moms.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...y-okapi-born-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge/

 

Okapi “Asili” has given birth to a healthy female calf! This is the first female calf born in a 2 years so great news to hear Log into Facebook

 

January 2023 Update:

Summary of Events:
This population had quite the boost this year with 4 (3.1) calves being born including a very valuable female birth. All of these calves were born to first-time moms which is really good news for the population!

• 1.0 "Deke" was born at White Oak Conservation Center to first-time mom, "Zukia", and dad, "Kadin" on February 11th, 2022.
• 1.0 "Beni" was born at Disney's Animal Kingdom to first-time parents, "Olivia", and "Elombe" on July 17th, 2022.
• 1.0 "Nzadi" was born at Oklahoma City Zoo to first-time parents, "Kayin" and "Bosomi", on September 7th, 2022.
• 0.1 "Kaya" was born at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center to first-time parents, "Asili", and "Kikari", on September 28th, 2022.

Unfortunately, we also lost one okapi, although I am glad there were more births than deaths in 2022.

• 20-year-old male, "Kadin" passed away on April 8th, 2022 at White Oak Conservation Center. He leaves behind two sons, one at Sedgwick County Zoo and one at White Oak.

A total of 6 animals were transferred in 2022 which has resulted in the temporary loss of a holder:

• 1.0 "Zuri", 0.1 "Subira", and 1.0 "Toby" were all temporarily transferred to San Diego Zoo Safari Park around July while their habitat at the San Diego Zoo is getting renovated.
• 1.0 "Dazi" was transferred to Sedgwick County Zoo from Disney's Animal Kingdom sometime in spring 2022 for breeding purposes.
• 1.0 "Bomani" was transferred from Brookfield Zoo to Dallas Zoo in April 2022 for breeding purposes.
• 1.0 "Matoke" was transferred back to his birth zoo, Columbus Zoo, in May/June 2022 for breeding purposes.

Updated List:

Spoiler

Audubon Species Survival Center - 3.3 (6)
1.0 Kikari (Kidomo x Caroli) August 15th, 2009 at Oklahoma City Zoo
1.0 Omar (Bakari x Zolo) December 8th, 2010 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Mosi (Omar x Mbaya) July 21st, 2017 at San Diego Zoo
0.1 Minazi Sasa (El Jewar x Miliki) May 7th, 2016 at Columbus Zoo
0.1 Asili (Kheri x Safiri) May 14th, 2017 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Kaya (Kikari x Asili) September 28th, 2022 at Audubon Species Survival Center

Blank Park Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Romakari (Molimo x Almasi) September 9th, 2018 at Denver Zoo

Brookfield Zoo - 1.2 (3)
1.0 JP (Hiari x Augusta K) May 16th, 2017 at Brookfield Zoo
0.1 Makemba (Ayari x Zoe) October 1st, 2011 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
0.1 Kota (Jackson x Opey) November 10th, 2017 at Los Angeles Zoo

Bronx Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Magani (Niko x Desi) May 28th, 2010 at Dallas Zoo
0.1 Dakota (Poucet x Kweli) February 8th, 2017 at Bronx Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Bahati (Zach x Betty) January 6th, 2013 at Zoo Tampa

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Kiloro (Nanoki x Siri) August 3rd, 2007 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Kuvua (Sungura x Lisala) November 4th, 2008 at Cincinnati Zoo

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium - 2.2 (4)
1.0 El Jewar (Fons x Kamili) August 26th, 1995 at Dallas Zoo
1.0 Matoke (Karatasi x Miliki) April 12th, 2012 at Columbus Zoo
0.1 Miliki (Romakari x Kutoa) January 19th, 2004 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Damisi (Niko x Kwanini) December 13th, 2005 at Dallas Zoo

Dallas Zoo - 2.2 (4)
1.0 Ikenge (Niko x Kwanini) July 16th, 2012 at Dallas Zoo
1.0 Bomani (Jamal x Opey) August 26th, 2013 at Los Angeles Zoo
0.1 Kilua (Kiloro x Kuvua) November 30th, 2013 at Cincinnati Zoo
0.1 Maziwa (Kheri x Anasa) December 4th, 2018 at White Oak Conservation Center

Denver Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Sekele (Biscotti x Safarani) June 10th, 2009 at San Diego Zoo
0.1 Kalispell (Jekaro x Iosi) June 27th, 2009 at Denver Zoo

Disney’s Animal Kingdom - 2.4 (6)
1.0 Elombe (Nanoki x Subira) January 11th, 2019 at San Diego Zoo
1.0 Beni (Elombe x Olivia) July 17th, 2022 at Disney's Animal Kingdom
0.1 Zenzelle (Fons x Bambessa) January 25th, 1997 at Dallas Zoo
0.1 Zawadi (Shani x Iosi) June 17th, 2005 at Denver Zoo
0.1 Zelda (Ayari x Zoe) July 3rd, 2006 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
0.1 Olivia (Akili x Zoe) November 3rd, 2013 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Greensboro Science Center - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Bakari (Poucet x Kweli) November 30th, 2006 at Bronx Zoo

Houston Zoo - 1.2 (3)
1.0 Kwame (Gerard x Kindu) December 18th, 1999 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
0.1 Sukari (Biscotti x Safarani) July 10th, 2007 at San Diego Zoo
0.1 Kivuli (Kwame x Sukari) July 19th, 2020 at Houston Zoo

Los Angeles Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Jackson (Zuri x Ayana) July 6th, 2014 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
0.1 Opey (Shani x Karama) December 20th, 2003 at Denver Zoo

Maryland Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Askari (Niko x Kwanini) December 8th, 2009 at Dallas Zoo

Memphis Zoo - 2.0 (2)
1.0 Miraq (Kwame x Tulia) November 6th, 2014 at Houston Zoo
1.0 Riley (Kiloro x Kuvua) January 14th, 2020 at Cincinnati Zoo

Nashville Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Kwasi (Zuri x Ayana) June 17th, 2012 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Oklahoma City Zoo - 2.1 (3)
1.0 Bosomi (Ulimi x Likimi) September 30th, 2018 at Sedgwick County Zoo
1.0 Nzadi (Bosomi x Kayin) September 7th, 2022 at Oklahoma City Zoo
0.1 Kayin (Kidomo x Caroli) November 9th, 2015 at Oklahoma City Zoo

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Jabari (Sekele x Kalispell) February 4th, 2014 at Denver Zoo
0.1 Kali (Romakari x Mira) August 4th, 2001 at White Oak Conservation Center

Potawatomi Zoo - 2.0 (2)
1.0 Corky (Hiari x Semliki) June 9th, 2013 at Brookfield Zoo
1.0 Will (Hiari x Augusta K) March 21st, 2015 at Brookfield Zoo

Roosevelt Park Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Akili (Max x Kuamba) June 12th, 1999 at Bronx Zoo

Sacramento Zoo - 2.0 (2)
1.0 Molimo (Akili x Zenzelle) September 6th, 2012 at Disney's Animal Kingdom
1.0 Forest (Sekele x Kalispell) December 4th, 2017 at Denver Zoo

St. Louis Zoo - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Akia (Ulimi x Likimi) May 30th, 2010 at Sedgwick County Zoo

San Antonio Zoo - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Epulu (Ulimi x Likimi) May 5th, 2012 at Sedgwick County Zoo
0.1 Ludimi (Biscotti x Safarani) August 22nd, 2011 at San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo Safari Park - 4.3 (7)
1.0 Nanoki (Romakari x Mateso) June 11th, 1995 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Zuri (Kenda x Makini) June 16th, 2008 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
1.0 Mpangi (Nanoki x Mbaya) January 2020 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
1.0 Toby (Mosi x Subira) February 2021 at San Diego Zoo
0.1 Mbaya (Poucet x Kweli) February 28th, 2009 at Bronx Zoo
0.1 Subira (Biscotti x Safarani) May 19th, 2013 at San Diego Zoo
0.1 Mahameli (Akia x Manala) January 5th, 2017 at Saint Louis Zoo

Sedgwick County Zoo - 2.2 (4)
1.0 Dazi (Mandazi x Zelda) October 1st, 2018 at Disney's Animal Kingdom
1.0 Kapu (Kadin x Amani) February 14th, 2020 at Sedgwick County Zoo
0.1 Likimi (Sungura x Azizi) January 15th, 2005 at Cincinnati Zoo
0.1 Amani (Ulimi x Likimi) May 30th, 2016 at Sedgwick County Zoo

Tanganyika Wildlife Park - 2.1 (3)
1.0 Udumu (Bakari x Ingasu) September 28th, 2010 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Amaranta (Omar x Makini) January 18th, 2015 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
0.1 Moyo (Kiloro x Kuvua) February 12th, 2017 at Cincinnati Zoo

White Oak Conservation Center - 9.11 (20)
Note: I have most likely missed some deaths and/or transfers but I should be up to date on births at this facility.

1.0 Romakari (Ikenge x Lomel) November 21st, 1989 at Epulu Okapi Station
1.0 Howard (Nanoki x Siri) December 8th, 2009 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Kheri (Kitabu x Kamina) June 7th, 2011 at Rotterdam Zoo
1.0 Gouester (Kheri x Zulu) March 19th, 2019 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Chimbuko (Kheri x Safiri) June 1st, 2019 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Mbili (Kheri x Namba) June 10th, 2020 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Tonka (Kheri x Nia) June 30th, 2020 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Nanasi (Khesi x Anasa) February 24th, 2021 at White Oak Conservation Center
1.0 Deke (Kadin x Zukia) February 11th, 2022 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Ingasu (Romakari x Amani) October 11th, 1993 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Demani (Romakari x Elphie) August 22nd, 2008 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Safiri (Biscotti x Makini) September 4th, 2011 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
0.1 Nia (Kidomo x Caroli) November 13th, 2011 at Oklahoma City Zoo
0.1 Zulu (Bakari x Zolo) June 21st, 2012 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Namba (Poucet x Damani) November 12th, 2013 at Bronx Zoo
0.1 Anasa (Bakari x Demani) September 19th, 2014 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Zukia (Bakari x Zolo) December 16th, 2014 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Pilipili (Kheri x Nia) March 8th, 2018 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Moja (Kheri x Namba) April 3rd, 2018 at White Oak Conservation Center
0.1 Rosie (Kheri x Safiri) October 1st, 2021 at White Oak Conservation Center

Zoológico de León - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Armando (Akili x Zelda) December 21st, 2015 at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Zoo Miami - 1.1 (2)
1.0 Zeke (Ayari x Zenzelle) June 18th, 2009 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
0.1 Nafuna (Akili x Zawadi) June 21st, 2012 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Zoo Tampa - 1.0 (1)
1.0 Zach (Tano x Zenzelle) February 26th, 2004 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

 

With all info found in this topic and the excellent work done on several websites, I made a pedigree tree off all the okapis who where born in Europe. Since two okapi's born in Antwerp, Fons and Gerard, where transferred to North America and started a succesfull breeding, the file contains all currently living okapis in the USA. They all have "Antwerp blood" running through their veins.

The file can show all the offspring of an individual or show all the ancestors of an individual. I made it with a genealogy program for humans. If anyone is interested, I can send a gedcom file, which you can import in any genealogy program you like. Just send me a PM.

 

Turns out we had a fifth calf born in 2022. “Mbaya” welcomed a healthy male calf on December 28th at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park - reported on socials.

 

I See Zach all the time he is doing great

 

1.0 "Sylvester" was born at the Houston Zoo to "Kwame" and "Sukari" on April 20, 2023.

Rare baby okapi named in honor of Sylvester Turner gets a visit from the mayor

 

Unfortunate the calf, named “Kaya”, was euthanized recently due to severe development issues that were affecting her growth plates, bones, and joints

 

Oof, why'd it have to be the one female calf... that birth was super valuable to the population...

 

As reported by @TheGerenuk in the San Antonio thread, first-time parents Epulu and Ludimi welcomed a healthy male calf on September 2nd.

It's always nice to have some first-time parents and a new healthy calf! But of course it's another male calf, lol.

 

A male Okapi calf is just as exciting as a female one. It's always just a coin flip when it comes to genders, which obviously means it's only luck that all of the recent baby Okapis in North America happen to be male.

 

Unfortunately, when there’s only 20 reproductively viable females in the entire population, a male calf is just simply not as exciting — it’s honestly worrying. The population desperately needs more females to be born if we want to have a viable population in North America in the long-term. It also is not necessarily always up to luck when it comes to the sex of offspring — there can be environmental and genetic factors as well, which the SSP is beginning to look into due to the very unfortunate spell of almost entirely male calves that is plaguing the program.

 

You are right. I didn’t know that less than half of the females Okapis in North America are reproductively viable animals. Now I can also see how the dearth of male calves is really affecting the SSP.

 

I saw Zach On 10/16/2023 he is doing great
Not sure I'm there alot and I have not heard anything yet

 

Hey just a heads up there is one correction with your list. The okapi Moyo (Kiloro x Kuvua) February 12th, 2017 is a male not a female and does not live at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Other then that great work on this list!

 

The male has been named Gates.

Gates the baby okapi’s first time in his new habitat is too cute! | Baby Okapi Update! ✨ We have a name! The baby boy’s name is Gates, chosen by a generous donor from our Zoobilation Ball fundraiser. Gates, under the... | By San Antonio Zoo | Facebook

 

It looks like (1.0) okapi Amaranta is no longer at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas, as the facility is down to (1.1) okapis Udumu and Moyo. The latest USDA Report also only lists 2 okapis, and the last social media post I could find is from 2020.

Today is World Okapi Day! Did... - Tanganyika Wildlife Park

 

Cincinnati - 0.1 Kuvua gave birth to a healthy calf yesterday (12/17) morning!! The gender of the calf is still unconfirmed but this is Kuvua's fourth calf with the zoo's male, Kiloro.

Baby Okapi Brings Joy to the Cincinnati Zoo World - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

 

I really hope it's a female calf because we need them!