Global Conservationists Fight To Protect Endangered Okapi

Posted onAuthorChris Owen

  • WCS is campaigning for CITES to list the endangered okapi on Appendix I to prohibit all international commercial trade.
  • The okapi, the giraffe’s only living relative, is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and faces major threats from illegal trade and hunting.
  • The proposal is supported by the DRC Government and conservation data from the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR).
  • WCS will also support listings for over 70 species of sharks and rays and oppose proposals to reopen trade in elephant ivory

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is actively campaigning for the adoption of Proposal 5 at the CITES CoP20 meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Submitted by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the proposal aims to list the endangered okapi (Okapia johnstoni) on CITES Appendix I. This classification represents the highest level of international protection and would prohibit all international commercial trade in the okapi or its parts.

Okapi and Calf

The okapi, recognized as the giraffe’s only living relative, is an endemic species found exclusively in the forests of the DRC. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, facing critical threats from illegal trade, hunting, and habitat loss. WCS argues that the Appendix I listing is essential for strengthening trade monitoring and reinforcing the work of Congolese conservationists by closing international enforcement gaps.

The proposal is supported by conservation data from the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and partners, who co-manage the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that serves as the species’ primary stronghold. WCS emphasizes that the listing is vital to prevent international criminals from trafficking the species across borders and to safeguard this unique national symbol for future generations. WCS will also use its presence at CITES to support protection proposals for other threatened species, including over 70 species of sharks and rays.