Rainforest Wild Adventure welcomes first okapi born in South-east Asia
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- Rainforest Wild Adventure in Singapore welcomed the first okapi calf born in Southeast Asia on July 27, now weighing 48 kg and gradually exploring its outdoor habitat.
- The okapi is an endangered species native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a long gestation period of about 440 days and elusive calf behaviour.
- Mandai invites the public to name the calf and celebrates its birth with themed offerings; the park also plans to introduce more species including sitatunga antelope and new lemurs by 2026.
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SINGAPORE – Rainforest Wild Adventure on July 27 welcomed the arrival of an okapi calf, the first to be born in South-east Asia.
Mandai Wildlife Group said on Sept 24 that the male calf, born to first-time parents Kisala, seven, and Xandor, four, currently weighs 48kg – more than double its birth weight.
It is housed with its mother in the Hidden Forest at Rainforest Wild Adventure East.
“We recently gave them access to their outdoor habitat, but the calf is still taking time to get used to his new surroundings,” said Cecilia Tang, a curator at Mandai’s animal care department.
“We’re allowing him to explore and build confidence at his own pace, so it may take some time before visitors see more of him.”
The calf spends most of its time in the calving box.
PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
As the calf may retreat to the off-exhibit den, a “baby monitor” providing a live feed is available for visitors wanting to catch a glimpse of it.
Those who wish to learn more about the species can join the daily okapi ranger talk at the park, held at 10.30am and 3pm.
The okapi, a highly elusive species closely related to giraffes, is native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Okapis are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and are cared for by only a handful of zoos worldwide.
According to Mandai, the calf’s parents came to Singapore under the EAZA Ex situ Programme, a coordinated breeding programme for threatened species.
“After Kisala was paired with Xandor, we observed changes in her appetite and body condition and began preparing for the possibility of a pregnancy,” said Tang.
“An ultrasound in July confirmed she was expecting a calf, which was an exciting milestone for the team.”
Okapis have one of the longest gestation periods among hoofed mammals, lasting around 440 days or 14 to 15 months.
Calves naturally spend most of their early days hidden and still to avoid being detected by predators, with mothers returning only a few times a day to nurse.
Mandai has invited members of the public to help name the calf by voting on its social media pages.
They can choose from three names inspired by African languages: Imara, meaning strong in Swahili; Mayaka, meaning pearl in Lingala; and Kiah, meaning dawn, new beginnings or start of the season in Swahili.
Guests can get okapi souvenirs at the retail shop at Rainforest Wild Adventure East.
PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
To celebrate the calf’s birth, okapi-themed offerings will be available across the Mandai precinct.
This includes an okapi-inspired cake, which will be available from October at selected dining outlets, and okapi souvenirs at the retail shop at Rainforest Wild Adventure East.
Aside from the okapi calf, Mandai also welcomed the sitatunga, a swamp-dwelling antelope, at Rainforest Wild Adventure.
The sitatungas can be found in Rainforest Wild Adventure East.
PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
Additionally, the park’s Lemur Land will progressively welcome more species, with the crowned lemur and red-bellied lemur expected to debut by November 2026.
The red-bellied lemur can be expected at Lemur Land from November 2026.
PHOTO: MANDAI WILDLIFE GROUP
Together, they will bring the total number of lemur species in the Madagascan-themed rainforest to four.