Okapids spend most of their lives alone except during mating or when mothers raise calves. Solitary living reduces competition for limited forest food. It also minimizes detection by predators. Individuals maintain overlapping territories without direct interaction. Encounters are usually brief and non-confrontational. This lifestyle suits the dense rainforest environment.
Solitary behavior reduces stress and conflict in resource-scarce areas. It also helps populations spread evenly across habitat.
This shows that social behavior is shaped by environment. Not all large mammals benefit from group living.
Okapids communicate without ever seeing each other.
Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)