Why okapis have stripey legs

Okapis live in dark, leafy rainforests. Their legs have light and dark stripes. These stripes help them hide from animals that might try to find them.

How the stripes help (easy steps)

• Like tree shadows: The stripes look like the patches of light and dark made by sunlight through leaves.
• Break up their shape: The stripes make it hard to see the okapi's outline, so it doesn’t look like an animal right away.
• Blend with plants: The stripe patterns match tall grass and plants, so the okapi can disappear into the background.
• Help babies follow mom: A baby okapi can spot the stripes and follow its mother safely through the forest.

Quick activity

Play hide-and-seek. Cut a paper leg shape, color stripes on it, and hide it near plants or toys. See how the striped paper is harder to find than a plain one!

So the stripey legs are like nature's hiding clothes — perfect for staying safe in the forest.