WORLD OKAPI DAY IN REVIEW

On October 18th, we celebrated World Okapi Day in an adapted way across the Reserve. Due to COVID-19. We were unable to host the large celebrations we are used to, but we still stayed committed to making the event fun and most importantly – sharing the importance of protecting the rainforest for okapi and the amazing biological diversity found in the Ituri Forest. While individuals celebrated in small groups of family and friends, OCP presented several kinds of activities to help the community celebrate. To promote social distancing, most of the World Okapi Day content was presented through radio broadcasts. The Education Team, led by Jean Paul M’monga Kiete, has been hard at work developing these broadcasts that spread awareness for okapi, environmental protection, the role of ICCN eco-guards and the connection of human health to conservation. Radio is the primary form of communication across the region, as villages are often in remote locations and roads are in poor condition. We have received amazing feedback on the quality of these broadcasts, and because of them, the entire Reserve was able to enjoy World Okapi Day despite the pandemic.  To read more, click here.