Even young okapids make very few sounds. Calves communicate mostly through body language. Silence prevents predator attraction. Mothers stay close for reassurance. Sound is minimized instinctively. Quiet is learned early.
This shows how behavior is shaped from birth. Survival habits start immediately.
It emphasizes silence as an evolutionary trait. Noise can be deadly.
Okapi calves are among the quietest ungulates.
Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)