The Zoo’s Ituri Forest exhibits house a number of different species of animals from central Africa, among them the okapi. Only about 90 of these intriguing animals are housed in zoos in the U.S. and we are fortunate to have 4 of them at the San Diego Zoo. That is, until 3 a.m. on July 10, when a fifth (and very welcome) arrival joined the group. That was when 14-year-old Safarani gave birth to a healthy and robust calf. Jama Kasowicz, a senior keeper assigned to that area, and Sue Averill, the team area lead in River Trails/Ituri Forest, witnessed the birth and stayed until the other area keepers arrived for their shift at 6 a.m. Within an hour of birth, the calf was standing and was observed nursing within the next hour.

The significance of this birth, other than the obvious of increasing the species’ population by one, is that the dam had given birth 17 months prior to her first calf who, unfortunately, did not thrive in his first days and did not survive. With no positive maternal history, Safarani’s keepers kept close watch on this second 15-month pregnancy should the need to intervene become apparent. Fortunately, all went well and our newest addition is a 57 1/2-pound female that Jama named Sukari, which means “sugar” in Swahili.

In the coming days and weeks we will keep you abreast of Sukari’s growth, introduction to the other okapis, and her interaction with her keepers.

John Michel is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.

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