October 18
World Okapi Day
Celebrate World Okapi Day — A Global Celebration for Okapi Conservation
World Okapi Day is an annual celebration of one of the world’s rarest and most extraordinary animals. Found in the wild only in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the okapi is a national icon and a unique part of the country’s extraordinary natural heritage.
But the okapi's future is inseparable from the future of its rainforest home. Despite being legally protected since 1933, okapi continue to face threats from habitat loss, illegal mining, and poaching. Protecting okapi means protecting the forests they depend on and, in turn, the remarkable biodiversity, natural resources, and local communities that share these forests.
That’s why World Okapi Day was created— a day of pride, connection, and action for the okapi, the rainforest, and the people who call it home.
Safety First: Protecting People While Celebrating Okapi
World Okapi Day 2026 comes at a challenging time in eastern DRC, with armed insecurity and the Ebola outbreak affecting communities across the region. But we are still finding safe, flexible ways to celebrate one of DRC’s most extraordinary species.
Activities will be locally led across five sites: Mambasa, Epulu, Niania, Wamba and Mungbere, reducing unnecessary travel. Local teams will assess security and public-health conditions before activities proceed. Events will be scaled down, relocated, postponed or shifted to radio where needed. In-person activities will include appropriate Ebola precautions, including PPE where necessary, handwashing, social distancing and smaller gatherings.
Celebrating World Okapi Day
Under the theme “Protect Okapi. Protect Forests. Protect Our Future.”, activities will focus on three areas:
Community conversations: Where safe, interactive forums will bring together local leaders, Indigenous representatives, women, youth and educators to discuss threats, solutions and commitments to conservation.
Okapi on the airwaves: A seven-day radio campaign will take World Okapi Day into communities, including places where travel or gatherings are restricted.
Youth in action: Students will learn, have fun and test their okapi knowledge through interactive presentations, discussions and quizzes.
World Okapi Day may look different this year, but its spirit remains the same: celebrating okapi and bringing people together safely to protect the forests and future they share.
A Global Celebration
World Okapi Day isn’t only celebrated in the DRC. Each year, zoos, schools, and conservation organizations around the world host events and awareness campaigns to inspire action for okapi.
From educational talks and special exhibits to community festivals and social media campaigns, World Okapi Day unites people across continents in support of this rare species.
No matter where you live, you can take part in this annual celebration.
How You Can Celebrate
Spread the word: Share okapi facts, stories, and photos on social media using #WorldOkapiDay and #OkapiConservation.
Visit an okapi: Support accredited zoos and partners in North America, Europe, and Asia that help safeguard okapi.
Recycle your electronics: Old cell phones contain coltan, a mineral mined from okapi habitat. Recycling reduces pressure on the forest.
Support conservation directly: Make a gift today to protect okapi and their habitat. 100% of proceeds go to on-the-ground efforts.
Host your own awareness event: From classroom projects to community gatherings, get creative — and share your photos with us at info@okapiconservation.org
Shop to Support World Okapi Day
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Okapi Brooches
Okapi Conservation Project has partnered with Australian-based craftsman jewelry designer Selatan to bring you this gorgeous okapi brooch. Inspired by the natural world, each brooch is thoughtfully designed to spark conversations about conservation.
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OCP Hoodie
The softest hoodie you'll ever own comes with such a cool design. You won't regret buying this classic streetwear piece of apparel with a convenient pouch pocket and warm hood for chilly evenings.
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World Okapi Day Bracelet - On Sale October 1
We're excited to partner with Creations 4 Wildlife on a special World Okapi Day bracelet. Designed to capture the dense Ituri forest and the way okapi stay hidden among the trees, each piece is handcrafted with red tiger eye, African jade, onyx and white fossil jasper. Because every bracelet is made by hand, small variations make each one a little different from the photos. Every purchase supports conservation where wildlife needs it most, and over World Okapi Day weekend, Creations 4 Wildlife will increase its donation to 30% of sales. It's a beautiful way to carry a piece of the okapi's forest home with you and to support the people protecting it.
Help Us Make World Okapi Day 2026 a Success
Sponsor World Okapi Day 2026
This year, World Okapi Day is being led by local teams in Mambasa, Epulu, Niania, Wamba and Mungbere, who are adapting every activity to keep their communities safe amid armed insecurity and the Ebola outbreak. The Okapi Conservation Project works hand-in-hand with communities, schools and global partners to make sure the celebration still inspires lasting conservation action.
Your sponsorship helps us:
Bring World Okapi Day to families through a seven-day radio campaign, including places where travel and gatherings are restricted
Host community conversations that unite local leaders, Indigenous representatives, women, youth and educators around conservation solutions
Provide educational materials, quizzes and prizes that inspire the next generation of conservation leaders
Cover the practical needs of celebrating safely, including PPE, handwashing supplies and smaller, scaled-down gatherings
Honor the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect wildlife in a region marked by conflict
Whether you are an individual, a business or an organization, sponsoring World Okapi Day 2026 is a meaningful way to stand with the people of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
Thank Your To Our 2026 Sponsors
Want to spread the word? We’ve created a World Okapi Day Media Kit with photos, logos, and ready-to-use social media post suggestions. It’s an easy way to join the celebration and help raise awareness worldwide.