Preparing the diet for Okapis

Category: Epulu, Mbuti Pygmies, Okapi | Date: Nov 10 2007 | By: admin

Between 9.30 am to 10.00 am the leaves are dropped off at the hangar shown in the picture. The next stage is to prepare 1536 bundles of leaves for the afternoon and the following morning to feed the Okapis.

Electrical wire is used to wrap around every bundle which allows to hang up the leaves on a feeder in the Okapi pen.

Not every animal gets the same number of bundles of leaves.

The leaves will be loaded to wheelbarrow. Every animal has his keeper including myself we are 13 in total. I take care of Karu born in captivity in Epulu 2003

6 Responses to “Preparing the diet for Okapis”

Jim G. (from Mass USA), on 10 Nov 2007

I cannot see the pictures when the page loads … I can see them if I click on them?

Jim G. (from Mass USA), on 10 Nov 2007

How do 14 Okapi’s eat 1536 bundles of leaves a day? … seems like a lot of leaves per Okapi (~108 bundles each)!

admin, on 11 Nov 2007

Hey Jim, I’ve gone in and linked up the pictures and video, not sure why that hadn’t worked. Cheers
Will

Jim G. (from Mass USA), on 11 Nov 2007

Thanks Will … isn’t WorldPress fun!

okapi, on 14 Nov 2007

Hello Jim It sounds like a lot but the amount of bundles serve for 2 feedings. Between 70 to 90 bundles are feed in the afternoon the rest serve for the morning feeding. Not all Okapis get the same amount of leaves. It comes up to about 18 to 22 kg of plain leaves. We feed only leaves to them nothing else.

Jim G. (from Massachusetts USA), on 14 Nov 2007

Thank you for your answer … the Okapis are well taken care of … it seems so much hard work!

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