must have Monday: okapis

My adoration of giraffes and zebras is no secret. But imagine how awesome it would be if there was an animal who was kinda like a mixture of the two! Imagine no longer, my friends, for that animal is called an okapi and lives in the Ituri Rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, central Africa.

{beautiful okapi painting by Jeane Nevarez}

You might think that okapis are related to zebras, with their pretty striped legs and all, but in fact they are more closely related to giraffes - their bodies being very similarly shaped, other than their necks being much shorter. Similarly to the giraffe, the okapi also has a long (roughly 30cm) bluey black tongue. Crazy mad.

When European explorers first reported the okapi's existence, calling it the 'African unicorn', their stories were not believed. It wasn't until a body was sent to London in 1901 that the okapi was formally recognised as a 'new' animal and named Okapia johnstoni after it's discoverer, the British explorer, Sir Harry Johnson.

Let's see what pretty okapi things we can find...

///for the walls///

{okapi painting by Diana Sudyka} {okapi painting by Betty Gerstner}

{okapi drawing by Tom Sachs} {cute okapi print by BreeAnn Veenstra}

///in the wardrobe///

{okapi necklace by Oh, Tiger!} {iron-on patch by DrChameleon}

{okapi tie by RulanCapperStarr} {glass okapi pendant by Happy Owl Glassworks}

///in the home///

{okapi bottle stopper from PetPro.com} {cosmetic pouch by Daphne of Octopurse}

{okapi plush from Amazon} {okapi ipod case by Customizables}

///misc///

{cardboard cut-out okapi by Kristofir Dean} {okapi figurine}

{origami okapi created by Yamada Katsuhisa} {okapi bag by daffyanimals}

...and just on the off chance that you might, one day, partake in a "Dress Like An African Animal Day" at work, I've put together a rather lovely okapi-themed outfit. I don't think I would even need a themed day to wear it, I love it!

{dress} {cardigan} {leggings} {bag} {necklace}{shoes} {ring}

and how about this party okapi outfit...

{sequin top} {shorts} {tights} {belt} {scarf} {shoes} {necklace} {rings}

Okapis are so my favourite animal of 2012.