1987: Okapi Conservation Project Initiative, Epulu Okapi Capture Station, Epulu, Zaire (DRC) through a contract with the Institute in Zaire for the Conservation of Nature. The Project is initiated by Karl Ruf and his wife Rosmarie, John Lukas, Steve Shurter, Karen Meeks and Jean Nlamba.

1987: The first male okapi captured by the OCP team escapes from his enclosure and returns to the forest! Seven more okapi were captured successfully to initiate the breeding program in Epulu.

1988: USDA Quarantine Station approved in Kinshasa, Zaire (DRC).

1989: Female okapi “Mateso” born in the Epulu forests was transported and quarantined by OCP, and arrived in US and was placed at the San Diego Zoo in the Okapi Species Survival Plan. She arrived at White Oak Conservation Center (WOCC) in 1991 and gave birth to 6 calves.

1989: First okapi calf is born at the OCP in Epulu “Romakari”.

1991: With external pressure on Zaire to install multi-party democracy, a National Conference declares itself sovereign and imposes an opposition Prime Minister to Mobutu. However, the merging of the Conference with parliament results in a continuation of Mobutu’s power.

1991: Two okapi “Romakari” and “Mujinga” born at the OCP in Epulu successfully arrive at WOCC in Florida. They have sired many offspring while at White Oak Conservation Center.

1992: The 13,700 square kilometer Okapi Wildlife Reserve is formally recognized by the Zaire government. The Reserve is unique in that it is intended to conserve the biodiversity and cultural diversity (Mbuti pygmies) of the region.

1996: The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is named a World Heritage Site by the UN Man and the Biosphere program, of the five sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

1997: President Mobutu’s 30 year government is violently overthrown to a generally welcoming Kinshasa citizenship. Mobutu flees to Togo. Zaire becomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo under Laurent Kabila, who is eventually assassinated.

1997: Karl and Rosmarie Ruf leave the country due to dangerous civil unrest. They are able to continue to manage the OCP remotely in the coming years through brief visits with the OCP staff. The Okapi Conservation Project is looted by rebel soldiers, losing all vehicles, supplies and equipment.

2000: Construction of 1,100 meter airstrip is completed by OCP, linking Epulu with regional transport centers and providing logistical support to conservation projects of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

2003: Karl Ruf and OCP staff members Jean Nlamba and Kambale Sambili  are killed in a tragic car accident in Uganda after meeting with rebel leaders trying to secure an agreement to allow the continuation of OCP activities within rebel occupied territory around Epulu.

2003: Civil war and troops again come to Epulu and loot the OCP. Opposing camps fight on site, with the Epulu River as the battle line. Throughout the conflict, OCP staff manages to feed and care for the 15 okapi maintained at the Epulu headquarters.

2004: Rosmarie Ruf (Karl’s wife) is appointed director of the OCP and returns to work full time in Epulu to rebuild the project and conservation programs.

2004: Okapi “Kurudi” is successfully released into the forest surrounding Epulu after contributing offspring to the captive program. His movements are followed by OCP trackers for the next three years as he steadily moves into the deep forest.

2005: Solar charged satellite radio phones “Thuraya” are deployed for use by Okapi Wildlife Reserve rangers while on patrol, providing state of the art communications and safety while protecting the Reserve.

2005: Construction of a new Epulu medical dispensary is completed and staffed by OCP, serving over 1,100 people in the area.

2006: Presidential elections are held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with oversight by UN troops and monitors, confirming Joseph Kabila (son of Laurent) as the new president.

2006: OCP field research team helps to confirm the presence of the okapi in the Virunga National Park, thought to be extinct since 1959.

2007: With UNESCO support, OCP and ICCN conduct aerial survey of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, which helped identify priority focal areas for future patrols and protection activities.

2007: Partnering with WildlifeDirect, OCP installs satellite internet communications service.

2007: With support from OCP, the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) personnel secured 95% of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, for the first time, from poaching, miners and encroaching human presence.

2008: International road crews worked on the road from Komanda to Epulu and continue west of Epulu to open the road for transport and commerce.

2008: Program Director Steve Shurter traveled to DRC to meet with OCP and ICCN staff and with the Ministry of Environment to participate in an organizational meeting of conservation organizations working in the country – CoCoCongo.

2009: The Director General of the ICCN Cosma Balongelwa Wilungula visited WOCC in September. In addition to seeing the okapi, the next five year contract between OCP and ICCN was reviewed and formalized.

2009: WOCC President John Lukas traveled to Epulu to meet with staff and review programs and progress of the last year. He accompanied a shipment of uniforms and equipment for the rangers and Project.

2009: As part of the commitment to okapi conservation, OCP supported a pioneering study with Dr. Mike Bruford, a geneticist with Cardiff University, UK to develop microsatellite markers for the okapi.

2009: The Congo Minister of the Environment Jose Endundu visited Epulu with three French journalists for film material of the Ituri forest for the Copenhagen summit on climate change. On another mission, the Ambassador of Spain to the DRC visited Epulu in November as a reconnaissance trip.

2009: Congo President Joseph Kabila visited Epulu and met with staff to discuss okapi conservation in the Ituri Forest. He is the first president of the country to visit the OWR.

2009: The RN4 bridge spanning the Epulu River collapsed under the weight of a truck and trailer. In addition to cutting the lifeline of the Project in Epulu, the loss of the bridge completely shut down traffic on the road. The resilient Congolese quickly set up a system to ferry goods and passengers across the Epulu River. The governor of Orientale Province helped organized the bridge’s repair, which was completed in record time.

2009: A team of researchers from WOCC traveled to Epulu to conduct a health assessment for the 14 okapi living at the station. The team also trained OCP staff members on basic animal care and health diagnostic procedures.

2010: In a special fundraising event, OCP worked with Global Giving and participated in an “open challenge”. By raising $11,000 OCP was able to earn permanent placement as a project partner with Global Giving.

2010: President Joseph Kabila again visited Epulu, his second visit since being elected president in 2006.

2010: The OCP constructed a block of housing for the ICCN Zunguluka Patrol Post located on the main road of the eastern border to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

2010: For the first time, specific conservation education sessions were held targeting 127 women in the villages situated along the RN4 (main route through OWR) on their role in sustainable utilization of natural resources.

2010: The breeding program at Epulu was reinstated, introducing male “Issa” to female “Tayari” and make “Kijana” to female “Tatu”.