Local people in the Congo Basin knew about okapids long before Western science acknowledged them. Europeans initially dismissed reports as myths or misidentified forest spirits. It was not until 1901 that scientists formally described the okapi. Early explorers even thought it might be a type of zebra or forest horse. Physical specimens were extremely difficult to obtain due to dense rainforest terrain. The okapi’s secrecy delayed its recognition by modern zoology. Its discovery shocked scientists because it was a large mammal hiding in plain sight.
The late discovery highlights how much of Earth’s biodiversity remained undocumented until recently. It also shows how traditional knowledge often predates scientific classification.
This fact reminds us that undiscovered or poorly understood species may still exist today. It emphasizes the importance of preserving remote ecosystems before they vanish.
The okapi was once nicknamed the “African unicorn” by early explorers.
Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)