What's Happening in Poway, CA…

Elombe, an okapi calf born at the San Diego Zoo several months ago, is now being allowed outside the barn where visitors can see him, according to zoo officials.

Okapis, who are native to the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a central African country, are critically endangered. The okapi is the giraffe’s closest living relative, and can be found in only a few zoos in the United States.

Representatives of San Diego Zoo Global said the successful birth of Elombe, who is called ‘Eli’ for short, is a promising development in the fight to save endangered species throughout the world. ‘Elombe’ means ‘brave one’ in Lingala, a Bantu language spoken in several African nations. Elombe joins Mosi, who was born at the zoo in 2017, as one of the few okapis on exhibit anywhere.

Eli has fascinated members of the animal-care staff since he was born and his mother, Subira, helped him stand and take his first steps on very wobbly legs. The calf is becoming more confident and curious, and seems eager to explore his surroundings, and to interact with Mosi and Safarani, Eli’s grandmother, though the animals are still separated by a fence.

The senior keeper, Jennifer Chapman, said Eli often seems quiet, studying his environment and his keepers, then he gets a huge energy burst and begins to explore everything. Officials can use brochure printing to create informational pamphlets on animals like this, highlighting conservation efforts.