Baby okapi Neo makes public debut at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

A baby okapi has made his first foray into public view after being born at a Yorkshire zoo. Yorkshire Wildlife Park (YWP), near Doncaster, has been part of a breeding programme for the endangered species since 2023, already successfully producing one calf. New arrival Neo was born in December, but has only just set foot in his new enclosure. Kyrie Birkett, section head of hoofstock, said the park was "really lucky" to look after "an incredible and beautiful species which need protecting". "It was amazing to see Neo take his first steps into his new enclosure," Birkett said. "He was nervous at first but has settled in quickly and is enjoying his new environment." Often known as the "forest giraffe", okapi are mammals native to the Democratic Republic of Congo, known for their distinctive striped markings on their legs. They can grow to almost 5ft tall (1.52m) at the shoulder with an average body length of 8ft (2.4m), weigh up to 771lb (350kg) and can live up to 30 years. The species is currently classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and is under threat from poachers, logging, illegal mining and other unrest. Mother Ruby had been sen