By Jerry Nguwa
Friday, May 15 2009

The unique and rare herbivore specie that lives exclusively in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Okapi is facing a probable extermination threats.

The animal which is essentially nocturne is in the list of world protected species since 1933. it lives only in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo due to its equatorial climate.

Last week, the head of the Okapi conservancy in the Epulu Park of the DRC told the press that this fauna jewel is facing extermination because of the dangerous increase of poaching cases and deforestation in the park.

Hpamedia's Managing Editor, Jerry Nguwa personally witnessed the trade of Okapi meats to people in total knowledge of the authority. The meat is the most expensive game meat in Oriental Province 's areas like Bafwasende, Batama, Mambasa etc.

Ituri being one of the war red marked regions of the DRC, conservation of the nature is myth. Estimated at 30.000 at the beginning of instabilities in the Eastern part of Congo some 10 years back, the number of individuals has drastically dropped to around 9.000 according to Mr. Jean-Jacques Mapangila whom we spoke to on the phone yesterday. He blames mines workers and the local population for the threat.

The lack of priorities for the Kinshasa Government makes it difficult to intervene and stop the killing of Okapis. Despite the presence of a ministry of tourism in the DRC, few are aware of this jewel of Africa .
http://www.hapamedia.net/nsokapi.php