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Baby Okapi Makes Public Debut At Bronx Zoo

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An okapi born over the summer is now making its public debut at the Bronx Zoo.

The birth of the baby okapi is a rare event. In the past 20 years, only 12 okapis have been born at the Bronx Zoo.

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Okapis are native to the Ituri Forest in the Congo and are closely relates to giraffes. They are considered a near threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Thanks to a successful husbandry program, which deals with the breeding raising, and caring for animals, the zoo's newest addition was born on June 2.

Okapi Calf at the Bronx Zoo by Wildlife Conservation Society on YouTube

Mom and baby okapi can be seen in the Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Okapi Jungle and Ituri Field Camp in the Congo Gorilla Forest.  Exhibit times will vary.

The okapi isn't the only new baby at the Bronx Zoo. A giraffe that was born on Sept. 14 made its public debut back in Oct. It was the first giraffe calf to be born at the zoo since 2009.

For more information, visit www.bronxzoo.com.

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