Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
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Is the okapi cryptozoology's greatest success story? If the locals were always just describing a giraffe relative from their backyard, was it ever a cryptid at all? Who decides that an animal is "real"?
Subscribe to the pin club here: https://complexly.store/products/bizarre-beasts-pin-subscription
This month's pin is designed by Kory Bing. You can find out more about her and her work here: korybing.com
You can cancel any time by emailing hello@dftba.com
Find out more about the National Geographic Photo Ark here: joelsartore.com
Learn more about the Okapi Conservation Project here: okapiconservation.org
Follow us on socials:
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Facebook: facebook.com/BizarreBeastsShow
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#BizarreBeasts #okapi
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Sources:
archive.org/details/romanceofnatural00gossrich/page/284/mode/2up
scientificamerican.com/blog/tetrapod-zoology/misreading-the-mokele-mbembe-the-mokele-mbembe-part-1
archive.org/details/savageafricabein00read/page/374/mode/2up
animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/okapi
nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/okapi
paceproject.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Pace-Okapi-Booklet-digital.pdf
animaldiversity.org/accounts/Okapia_johnstoni
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001578/19310711/028/0005#
web.archive.org/web/20080913201957/http://www.zsl.org/field-conservation/news/first-ever-pictures-of-africas-unicorn,514,NS.html
cryptozoonews.com/ics-2016-pt1
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-22246-2_26
https://library.si.edu/donate/adopt-a-book/darkest-africa
https://readingroo.ms/4/3/6/5/43655/43655-h/43655-h.htm#APPENDIX_B
britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG124957
https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53714/discovering-okapi?srsltid=AfmBOoqrp9j0BGuAzjOGglZZurz0TJYNxhK7DdOAWsKunAWxqN4HUSoI
education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/belgian-king-establishes-congo-free-state
biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31590976#page/90/mode/1up
biodiversitylibrary.org/item/177812#page/1/mode/1up
biodiversitylibrary.org/item/99488#page/52/mode/1up
pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/fantastic-creatures
ebsco.com/research-starters/history/scramble-africa
iucnredlist.org/species/15188/51140517
nrdc.org/stories/new-deal-okapi-africas-unicorn
iucncontributionsfornature.org/contributions/9879?lat=49.9555081&lng=45.9441973&zoom=3
researchgate.net/publication/295908918_Okapi_Okapia_johnstoni_Conservation_Strategy_and_Status_Review#pfb
------
Images:
docs.google.com/document/d/1bETQgMcHunqlyFx-MhCAWjgeaxTAwGbxR9I4HnzOUy8/edit?tab=t.0
Be kind to yourself this year. Using Zocdoc is FREE - visit our sponsor zocdoc.com/BIZARREBEASTS to find and instantly book an appointment with a top-rated, in-network doctor today!
Is the okapi cryptozoology's greatest success story? If the locals were always just describing a giraffe relative from their backyard, was it ever a cryptid at all? Who decides that an animal is "real"?
Subscribe to the pin club here: https://complexly.store/products/bizarre-beasts-pin-subscription
This month's pin is designed by Kory Bing. You can find out more about her and her work here: korybing.com
You can cancel any time by emailing hello@dftba.com
Find out more about the National Geographic Photo Ark here: joelsartore.com
Learn more about the Okapi Conservation Project here: okapiconservation.org
Follow us on socials:
Instagram: instagram.com/bizarrebeastsshow
Facebook: facebook.com/BizarreBeastsShow
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bizarrebeastsshow.bsky.social
#BizarreBeasts #okapi
-----
Sources:
archive.org/details/romanceofnatural00gossrich/page/284/mode/2up
scientificamerican.com/blog/tetrapod-zoology/misreading-the-mokele-mbembe-the-mokele-mbembe-part-1
archive.org/details/savageafricabein00read/page/374/mode/2up
animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/okapi
nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/okapi
paceproject.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Pace-Okapi-Booklet-digital.pdf
animaldiversity.org/accounts/Okapia_johnstoni
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001578/19310711/028/0005#
web.archive.org/web/20080913201957/http://www.zsl.org/field-conservation/news/first-ever-pictures-of-africas-unicorn,514,NS.html
cryptozoonews.com/ics-2016-pt1
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-22246-2_26
https://library.si.edu/donate/adopt-a-book/darkest-africa
https://readingroo.ms/4/3/6/5/43655/43655-h/43655-h.htm#APPENDIX_B
britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG124957
https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53714/discovering-okapi?srsltid=AfmBOoqrp9j0BGuAzjOGglZZurz0TJYNxhK7DdOAWsKunAWxqN4HUSoI
education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/belgian-king-establishes-congo-free-state
biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31590976#page/90/mode/1up
biodiversitylibrary.org/item/177812#page/1/mode/1up
biodiversitylibrary.org/item/99488#page/52/mode/1up
pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/fantastic-creatures
ebsco.com/research-starters/history/scramble-africa
iucnredlist.org/species/15188/51140517
nrdc.org/stories/new-deal-okapi-africas-unicorn
iucncontributionsfornature.org/contributions/9879?lat=49.9555081&lng=45.9441973&zoom=3
researchgate.net/publication/295908918_Okapi_Okapia_johnstoni_Conservation_Strategy_and_Status_Review#pfb
------
Images:
docs.google.com/document/d/1bETQgMcHunqlyFx-MhCAWjgeaxTAwGbxR9I4HnzOUy8/edit?tab=t.0
