By: John R. Platt
This past week, a new animal has been put on the endangered species list by the International Union for Conservation of Natural Resources. (Platt) The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is very rare and hard to find. This species is shockingly related to giraffes but have somewhat similar characteristics to the zebra and a large deer. People disagree and say that this animal should have been on the list, starting in 2008, but has not made it on until this past week. "This species has lost at least 50 percent of its population since 1995 due to poaching and habitat loss. The species had previously been listed under the Red List category of "near threatened", "(Platt 1).
The Okapi Specialist Group has reported that this species can only be found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Platt) There has been so much reoccurring violence throughout this area and this species has not been well payed attention to. The DRC has been remaining in civil conflict and suffering from extreme poverty. "The DRC already has laws in place to protect okapi, which are considered the country's national animal, but the constant presence of armed rebels and militias makes enforcement difficult if not impossible". (Platt). In result of this, the Okapi Conservation Project was created, which facilitated that this species is so important and there has to be specific changes made in order help these endangered animals. The organization realizes that these animals are officially marked on the endangered list and they need to be saved. (Platt)
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2013/11/25/okapi-endangered/
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